HB 151 151 - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0224
06/04
HOUSE BILL 151
SPONSORS: Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23; Rep. K. Murray, Rock. 22; Rep. Balboni, Rock. 38; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study the issue of unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0224
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the issue of unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall study issues associated with unmarried cohabitants, domestic partnerships, and common law marriage. The study shall include consideration of other states that recognize common law marriage, the fact that New Hampshire does not recognize the validity of common law marriages except to the limited extent provided by RSA 457:39, and whether as a matter of public policy broader recognition of common law marriage is warranted. The committee shall also study issues arising from accumulated assets during the course of a committed relationship as unmarried cohabitants, domestic partners, or through a common law marriage arrangement. The committee may solicit information and testimony from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2023.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.