NH HB1547

Defendants charged with misdemeanor sexual assault (RSA 632-A:4), class A misdemeanor assault (RSA 631:2-a and 631:2-b), or misdemeanor stalking (RSA 633:3-a) in circuit court must choose within 30 days of arraignment whether to appeal to superior court for a jury trial or waive jury trial rights and proceed in circuit court

Previously, the early election requirement for jury trials applied only to misdemeanor sexual assault cases involving victims under 18; this bill extends it to all misdemeanor sexual assault cases and adds assault and stalking offenses

Circuit courts must conduct a colloquy with defendants to confirm they knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waive their jury trial rights before proceeding with a bench trial

Estimated fiscal impact of $500,000 to $1,000,000 annually starting FY 2028, requiring one additional Superior Court judge, one court monitor, three court operations specialists, and increased jury-related costs funded by the General Fund

Effective date is January 1, 2027