NH HB611

Reverts New Hampshire law to require all defendants who receive court-appointed counsel to repay the state for legal fees, regardless of whether they are convicted, reversing current law that only requires repayment upon conviction

Caps repayment for legal services at the state's flat rate for contract attorneys and allows the state to collect up to 10% service charge on total fees owed

Requires the Office of Cost Containment to determine defendants' ability to pay and allows courts to grant relief from repayment obligations if defendants are found financially unable to pay

Extends repayment requirements to juveniles charged with delinquency, with liability ending when the juvenile reaches the age of majority unless certified and tried as an adult

Takes effect January 1, 2026, with estimated fiscal impact of $450,000 in revenue in FY 2026 and $650,000 in FY 2027, though initial costs are expected to exceed revenue collected