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HB1565 Relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families.

Other In Senate Auto-scored

Relative to the penalty for false reports of suspected abuse and neglect made to the division for children, youth, and families.

Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?

6

Overall Impact Score

Mixed

Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)

5
💰

Your Wallet

No direct financial impact; could save state resources currently spent investigating false reports.

7
🏘️

Your Community

Deters weaponization of the child welfare system through false reports, protecting innocent families while ensuring real abuse reports are taken seriously.

7
⚖️

Your Freedom

Protects families from malicious false accusations that trigger invasive state investigations, while preserving the ability to report genuine concerns.

Status

Conference Committee Report 2026-2058c: Adopted, DV 198-154 06/04/2026 House Journal 15

Voted Yes

0 R

Voted No

0 R

R Yes D Yes R No D No

Sponsor

James Spillane (R)

The Short Version

Strengthens penalties for people who make knowingly false reports of child abuse and neglect to DCYF. Currently in Senate committee after overwhelming House support (reconsideration failed 18-311). False reports waste resources and traumatize families.

Who's Behind This Bill?

Who Benefits

  • Families targeted by false abuse reports
  • DCYF caseworkers who can focus on real cases
  • Children in genuinely dangerous situations who benefit from better resource allocation

Who Pays the Price

  • Those who make false reports would face stiffer penalties

Roll Call Detail (1 vote)

Every recorded floor vote on this bill, with each legislator's individual vote. Click a name to see that rep's full record.

Reconsider 2026-03-11
Failed

YES = Yes. NO = No.

0R + 18D
Voted Yea (18)
182R + 129D
Voted Nay (311)
36
Absent
27
Not voting
Show all 392 individual votes

Voted Nay (311)

Republicans (182)
Democrats (129)

Bill statuses as of May 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.