NH Gov. Ayotte signs slew of crime victim bills into law

New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte has signed a slew of bills aimed at protecting crime victims, strengthening penalties for human trafficking and cracking down on child pornography generated by artificial intelligence.

The first-term Republican signed 11 bills on Monday updating laws related to how investigators handle rape kits, establishing a committee to study the toll of human trafficking within illicit massage parlors and setting stricter penalties for creating child sex abuse images using artificial intelligence programs.

"New Hampshire continues to take decisive action to protect victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other horrific crimes and get offenders off our streets," Ayotte said in a statement. "From cracking down on human trafficking to establishing a new domestic violence fatality review committee, we're making sure our state remains the safest state in the nation."

Among the bills signed by Ayotte:

House Bill 218 provides victims of crimes with the right to request a free initial police report and, following the conclusion of the investigation or case, a free copy of the complete case file.

Senate Bill 140 establishes the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee to conduct comprehensive, multidisciplinary reviews of deaths related to domestic violence.

Senate Bill 148 prohibits those convicted of murder from financially profiting from the death of the victim. For example, if a person kills their parent, they cannot then inherit their parent's estate.

Senate Bill 262 increases the penalty for certain offenses involving the trafficking of persons under 18 years of age to 18 years to life imprisonment.

While New Hampshire’s violent crime rate has been decreasing for years, Ayotte has said there are too many crimes being committed and campaigned on a platform of tightening the state's public safety laws.

The former U.S. senator made crime a central pillar of her gubernatorial campaign last year, focusing on New Hampshire's most populous city, Manchester, and attacking her Democratic opponent Joyce Craig’s record as mayor.

Attorney General John Formella was among those who praised Ayotte for signing the slate of public safety bills, saying they "send a clear message: victims will be supported and perpetrators will be held accountable."

"These new laws – from enhancing protections for domestic violence survivors to increasing penalties for human trafficking and exploitation – demonstrate our dedication to safeguarding the most vulnerable," Formella, a Republican, said in a statement.