New Hampshire House leadership is taking meaningful action to protect children and families and to bring long-needed reform to family law.
After decades of advocacy, last year New Hampshire passed Shared Parenting and a Parental Bill of Rights—major milestones for families in our state. Building on that momentum, this year they are addressing other long-standing concerns, including parental alienation and false allegations in family court.
House Bill 1323, submitted by Children and Family Law Vice Chair Kim Rice, provides a clear legal definition of parental alienation and incorporates it into relevant areas of law, giving courts the tools they need to protect children and preserve loving parent-child relationships.
Though the term parental alienation may be unfamiliar to many, the phenomenon itself is all too prevalent. We have all heard stories of bitter custody battles in which one parent attempts to pit their children against the other. The experiences are devastating, and the need for legal clarity is undeniable.
House Bill 1323 defines oarental alienation as “a pattern of behavior, conduct, or speech that would damage the relationship of the child and a parent, resulting in the child’s fear, negative perception, rejection, or hostility toward their other parent.” It clarifies that this includes “communicating disparaging remarks to a child about their other parent, using tactics to manipulate or coerce a child, and unjustified interference with parenting time.”
Every child deserves the love and support of both parents. Parental alienation robs them of that right. This is not a simple disagreement between adults, nor a casual misstep or overheard comment—it is a deliberate, harmful pattern in which a child is coached to reject a parent they love. Research shows the effects are measurable: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and fractured relationships that last well into adulthood. The heartbreak is profound for the child, for the parent who is unfairly pushed away, and for the extended family.
Opponents suggest a legal definition could be misused in court. But just because a fear is voiced doesn’t make it true. We define other terms like domestic violence and child abuse to guide the law, not hinder it. Clear definitions improve judicial consistency.
I recently attended a program hosted by the New Hampshire Bar Association and Family Courts. It validated this point. The term parental alienation came up a few times during the judges’ presentations. It was encouraging that it’s recognized and considered, but judges emphasized they must follow the statute, not personal opinion. Without a legal definition, courts are left to interpret alienation inconsistently. HB 1323 is a practical, evidence-based solution that gives courts the clarity and guidance they need to more consistently identify alienation and uniformly intervene when necessary.
The impact of this law will be verifiable. Courts report fewer prolonged custody battles, more effective interventions such as counseling and reunification efforts, and—most importantly—children maintain relationships with both parents into adulthood. HB 1323 will regulate judicial discretion and ensuthat courtscan act consistently in the best interests of every child.
Awareness matters too. When citizens understand parental alienation, they can recognize harmful behavior, correct it, or call it out among friends and family. Similar to how our state reduced co-sleeping incidents, education about parental alienation can prevent emotional harm before it becomes entrenched.
Let’s continue the momentum from the past year and lead by example as a state. The Children and Family Law Committee will vote on this bill on Tuesday, Jan. 27, before going to the floor for a full House vote. Reach out to your state representatives and share your support for this pivotal bill. Passing HB 1323 is not just good policy—it’s the right thing to do for our children, our families, and our future.