N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A: § 354-A:1
Title and Purposes of Chapter.
Operative Text
This chapter shall be known as the "Law Against Discrimination." It shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the state for the protection of the public welfare, health and peace of the people of this state, and in fulfillment of the provisions of the constitution of this state concerning civil rights. The general court hereby finds and declares that practices of discrimination against any of its inhabitants because of age, sex, gender identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin are a matter of state concern, that such discrimination not only threatens the rights and proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a free democratic state and threatens the peace, order, health, safety and general welfare of the state and its inhabitants. A state agency is hereby created with power to eliminate and prevent discrimination in employment, in places of public accommodation and in housing accommodations because of age, sex, gender identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin as herein provided; and the commission established hereunder is hereby given general jurisdiction and power for such purposes. In addition, the agencies and councils so created shall exercise their authority to assure that no person be discriminated against on account of sexual orientation.
New Hampshire's Law Against Discrimination, established under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 354-A:1, is the foundational statute declaring that discrimination based on characteristics such as age, sex, gender identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation is a matter of statewide concern. The provision establishes a state agency—the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights—with broad jurisdiction to eliminate and prevent discriminatory practices in housing, employment, and public accommodations. This chapter frames anti-discrimination enforcement as an exercise of the state's authority to protect public welfare and uphold constitutional civil rights guarantees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in New Hampshire are subject to the broad anti-discrimination framework established by § 354-A:1, which covers housing accommodations as an explicit area of enforcement. Compliant operators generally ensure that their rental practices, advertising, tenant screening, and lease terms do not treat applicants or residents differently on the basis of any protected characteristic named in the chapter. Because § 354-A:1 establishes the jurisdictional foundation for the entire Law Against Discrimination, understanding its scope helps operators recognize which characteristics are protected across all subsequent provisions of the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 354-A:1, New Hampshire tenants are afforded protections against housing discrimination on the basis of age, sex, gender identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation. This provision establishes the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights as the state agency with jurisdiction to receive complaints and act against discriminatory housing practices. Tenants who believe they have experienced housing discrimination may consider filing a complaint with that Commission, raising the violation in relevant legal proceedings, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or civil rights organization for general information about available options under § 354-A:1 and related provisions.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 20, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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