NH HB1556

Establishes enhanced penalties for domestic violence offenses committed in the presence of a child under 18 years of age, including increasing maximum imprisonment for class A misdemeanors from one year to 18 months and adding 6 months to minimum and one year to maximum terms for class B felonies

Imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days imprisonment for domestic violence offenses committed in a child's presence

Defines "in the presence of a child" as the child being physically present or in a location where they could reasonably see or hear the domestic violence, regardless of whether they actually observed the incident

Requires law enforcement officers to immediately report to child protective services when they have probable cause that domestic violence occurred in a child's presence

Directs the Police Standards and Training Council to develop training on identifying child presence at domestic violence scenes within 12 months, and the Attorney General to create prosecution guidelines within 6 months, with the act taking effect January 1, 2027