SB 467 increases penalties for fentanyl distribution by establishing mandatory minimum prison sentences: 3.5 years for 20 grams or more and 7 years for 50 grams or more (including mixtures). It also mandates a life sentence or long prison term for distributing non-fentanyl controlled drugs that cause death. Courts may reduce these sentences if defendants meet specific conditions, such as having no recent violent felony convictions, not using violence, and completing drug treatment or education. If reduced, defendants must serve at least 3 years of probation with drug testing, treatment, community service, and a suspended prison sentence.
HB 1184 establishes clear rules for issuing no trespass orders (NTOs) on municipal and school properties in New Hampshire. It requires most NTOs to be approved by a unanimous vote of the governing body (e.g., city council or school board) at a public meeting, and mandates written orders including the reason, property location, duration (max 90 days), and the right to request a hearing. Individuals affected can challenge an NTO through a hearing and appeal to court within 30 days, while existing NTOs over 90 days automatically expire. The bill also limits extensions beyond 90 days to court-issued restraining orders, ensuring procedural safeguards for those subject to NTOs.
HB 1422 extends the deadline for filing a petition for a new trial beyond the standard three years in specific criminal cases. It applies to individuals convicted of a felony or class A misdemeanor who are incarcerated, subject to sentence terms, or facing collateral consequences, provided they allege newly discovered evidence and innocence. The petition must detail the new evidence, including results from new forensic testing or scientific analysis not available at trial. Courts must first verify the petition meets these conditions before granting a hearing, and the state must reactivate victim services during the case review.
HB 1442 requires public schools and municipal buildings to designate bathrooms and locker rooms by biological sex (male/female), rather than gender identity. It redefines "gender identity" to exclude using it for accessing spaces designated for females, and creates "willful trespass" for males entering female-designated facilities (with exceptions for emergencies or supervision). The bill also mandates correctional facilities house inmates by biological sex and limits gender identity protections in civil rights enforcement. It directly affects public school students, municipal building users, correctional facility inmates, and businesses operating public accommodations. The law uses biological sex (based on chromosomes/SRY gene) as the standard for facility access and definitions.
HB 191 prohibits transporting, recruiting, or harboring a pregnant minor under 18 (unemancipated) within New Hampshire to obtain an abortion without parental permission, imposing criminal penalties. It classifies first offenses as class A misdemeanors and repeat offenses (two prior violations) as class B felonies. Exemptions include parents/guardians, those with written parental consent, common carriers, and emergency medical personnel. The bill also allows civil lawsuits for wrongful death if a violation leads to an abortion, with damages covering economic, noneconomic, and punitive costs. This directly affects individuals assisting minors in accessing abortion services without parental involvement.
