Seeking a deal, Senate moves toward House on bail reform
May 24—CONCORD — The state Senate took a major step toward elusive consensus over changes to the state's bail reform law that would compel those arrested for violent crimes to face a court hearing before release pending trial.
In a clear bid to win over support in the closely divided House of Representatives, Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, dropped her opposition to creating court magistrates who would preside over bail hearings at nights and on weekends when judges were not available.
The Senate-passed plan (SB 318 amended) would direct state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald to hire three magistrates, rather than the 10 that the House had proposed, and give the top jurist sole authority to decide where to assign them.
The House-passed magistrates would have cost the state more than $1.5 million a year.
Carson's olive branch, which the Senate endorsed on a voice vote, is meant to try to get the House to endorse the changes when it takes them up next Thursday.
The House instead could decide it wants a committee of conference to work further on a compromise.
Both sides agree on the foundation of a fix to the 2019 bail law — requiring anyone arrested for committing 11 serious felony-level crimes to face a judge or magistrate before a decision is made on bail.
State Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, a co-architect of the House plan, said he's "very hopeful" by the Senate action, and will consult with House GOP and Democratic leaders on the next step to take.
