Surrounded by advocates and lawmakers, Gov. Kelly Ayotte marked a new set of protections for domestic and sexual violence survivors Monday as part of what many have called a significant expansion of victims’ rights this year.
For State Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, the reason the legislature passed so many laws this year to protect victims comes down to one thing: a gap in the law that was only discovered because survivors had the strength to come forward and tell their stories.
“These new laws, regardless of how small or incremental they may seem, will make a monumental difference in the lives of survivors and communities,” Rhodes said Monday at a press conference where advocates and legislators highlighted the state’s efforts to protect victims of domestic and sexual violence. “They dictate how judges, law enforcement, and prosecutors respond to violent crimes. They establish more effective tools for professionals in the field.”
Rhodes is the vice chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
One of those laws signed this year, House Bill 1651, expands access to protective orders for survivors of sexual assault.
Under current New Hampshire law, survivors generally can only obtain a protective order if they have a qualifying relationship with the offender, such as being married, dating, living together, related by family, or being an intimate partner.
The new law closes that gap by allowing survivors of sexual assault to seek protective orders regardless of their relationship to the offender. The law also strengthens victims’ rights by requiring survivors to be informed about the status and location of their sexual assault evidence kit, commonly known as a rape kit, and how long the evidence will be stored.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte said at the press conference that the state needs “constant improvement.” She pointed to cases like the July 2025 killing of Marisol Fuentes in Berlin by her estranged husband as a reminder of why collaborative work on this issue matters.
“We don’t want anyone to experience that and so that’s why we’re working together to improve what is happening in New Hampshire,” Ayotte said. “We obviously want to make sure there are fewer victims, but if God forbid someone becomes a victim, they want to know that we are by their side.”
Ayotte, who championed the state’s bail reform law, which requires that people charged with serious offenses be held until arraignment, eliminating the option of release by bail commissioners, said the law has made a “huge impact” on domestic violence cases.
She has made public safety and supporting law enforcement the cornerstone of her first year as governor and her reelection campaign.
“These new laws build on the progress we made last year by closing gaps in protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, strengthening support for crime victims and helping to prevent and stop human trafficking,” she said. “I’m grateful to the survivors, victim advocates, law enforcement and legislators from both sides of the aisle who have worked tirelessly to strengthen our laws and make New Hampshire even safer.”
Another law, set to take effect in July 2027, addresses a longstanding gap in New Hampshire’s oversight of massage businesses.
While massage therapists are required to be licensed, the businesses they work for have not been held to the same standard, a loophole advocates say has allowed illicit massage parlors tied to human trafficking to operate across the state.
Strengthening the restitution process for crime victims was another effort signed into law this year.
“These laws will benefit countless victims in the future, and will advance their healing and their search for justice,” said Lyn Schollett, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. “It takes survivors, legislators, community members, volunteers, board members, and crisis center directors working together to make these changes a reality. No one does this work alone. “
