HB1067 Relative to the mental health courts.
Relative to the mental health courts.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Taxpayers may face new costs of up to $4 million annually to fund mental health court grants, but the bill emphasizes cost-effectiveness and reducing incarceration expenses, creating uncertain net fiscal impact.
Your Community
Mental health courts provide treatment-focused alternatives to incarceration for offenders with mental illness, potentially reducing recidivism, jail crowding, and emergency mental health admissions in participating communities.
Your Freedom
The bill expands individual rights by allowing charge dismissal or annulment after successful program completion, giving offenders with mental illness a path to clear their records and avoid incarceration.
Status
Died on Table, Session ended 08/19/2026 House Journal 16
Sponsor
Mark Pearson (R)
The Short Version
This bill establishes a framework for mental health courts in NH counties and districts, allowing judges to divert offenders with mental illness into treatment programs instead of incarceration, with the possibility of charge dismissal upon successful completion. It creates a state grant program to fund new mental health courts, though no appropriation is specified and costs are estimated at up to $4 million annually by 2029.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Offenders with diagnosed mental illness who participate in mental health courts
- ▲ Counties and districts that receive state grants to operate mental health courts
- ▲ Communities reducing jail overcrowding and recidivism
- ▲ Families of individuals with mental illness avoiding long-term incarceration
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ State general fund taxpayers funding grants of up to $4 million annually
- ▼ Counties/districts required to contribute local resources and staff (judge, prosecutor, defense lawyer, case manager, coordinator)
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.