Criminal Justice

vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 19, 2026

HB 1442: permitting classification of individuals based on biological sex under certain limited circumstances.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates correctional facilities house inmates by biological sex, limiting gender identity protections. This restricts inmate rights in corrections, a core criminal justice component.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 549: requiring certain syringe service program entities to provide options for disposal of used syringes and needles and creating reporting requirements for such entities.

SB 549 prohibits state and local governments from using public funds to support organizations that distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles and syringes through syringe service programs (SSPs). It specifically blocks state funds - such as those from opioid settlement money - from being used for SSPs that provide such paraphernalia, except during disease outbreak responses under existing law. The bill affects funding for public health programs by restricting how state and local resources can be allocated to organizations distributing drug-related items. The fiscal note indicates this would reduce annual funding for SSPs by approximately $1.7 million, though it clarifies this does not represent net savings but potential cost shifts to other healthcare services.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds syringe service programs by blocking state funds (including opioid settlement money) from supporting needle/syringe distribution, restricting public health program funding.92% confidence ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeDefunds syringe service programs (SSPs) that provide drug paraphernalia, restricting harm reduction initiatives tied to criminal justice reform and public health programs.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill explicitly restricts public funding for syringe service programs (SSPs), a public health initiative aimed at reducing disease transmission, by defunding these programs except during disease outbreaks.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Public Health Substance Abuse

passed both · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 15: relative to incorporating hard labor as a sentencing option for capital murder and serious sexual assaults on children, defining hard labor, establishing medical exemptions and penalties for abuse thereof, providing alternative punitive measures for legitimate medical exemptions, and authorizing jury determination of hard labor in qualifying cases.

This bill establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment for anyone who distributes certain controlled drugs (including methamphetamine, PCP, and other Schedule I or II drugs) when death results from the person's use of those substances. It requires that the death must be directly caused by the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of the distributed drug, and prohibits using the decedent's own drug use as a defense. The bill amends the Controlled Drug Act to create this mandatory sentence, clarifying it applies when the distributor's actions are a direct cause of death. It does not prevent other prosecutions for homicide or related drug offenses. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes mandatory minimum 10 years to life for drug distribution causing death, increasing sentencing severity and opposing reform trends.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Sentencing Violent Crime

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 149: relative to the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated.

SB 149 adds "wrong-way driving" as an aggravating factor that elevates a standard driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense to an aggravated DWI. This means drivers convicted of DWI who also drive the wrong way on a road (violating RSA 265:26, I) will face harsher penalties. The bill amends New Hampshire's aggravated DWI statute (RSA 265-A:3) to include this specific violation as a new factor for sentencing. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and directly affects individuals convicted of DWI who engage in wrong-way driving. The change was requested by the Department of Safety to address a specific high-risk behavior.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeAdds wrong-way driving as aggravating factor for DWI, increasing penalties - aligns with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds stricter penalties for wrong-way driving during DWI, enhancing road safety under transportation policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Roads & Highways

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failed · New Hampshire · House May 7, 2026

HB 191: providing criminal penalties for the transporting of an unemancipated minor in order to obtain a surgical procedure or a termination of the minor's pregnancy without parental permission.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by imposing new penalties (misdemeanors/felony) for transporting minors for abortion without consent, increasing criminal penalties under criminal justice framework.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts minor abortion access without parental consent, imposing criminal penalties for transportation to obtain the procedure, directly limiting healthcare access for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

passed · New Hampshire · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 257: relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

HB 257 establishes a new criminal offense called "criminal neglect of a child" for caregivers (such as parents or guardians) who negligently fail to provide necessary care - including food, medical care, shelter, or protection from drugs - for reasons other than poverty, thereby endangering a child's physical, mental, or emotional health. Penalties range from a class A misdemeanor for basic violations to a class A felony if the neglect causes a child's death, serious injury, or repeat offenses. The law applies to anyone responsible for a child's welfare and will take effect on January 1, 2026. It also updates sentencing guidelines to include this offense for crimes against children under 13.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense with felony penalties, expanding criminalization beyond existing laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 194: relative to the crime of interference with custody and relative to the practice of pharmacy and the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists.

HB 194 amends New Hampshire law to clarify and strengthen criminal penalties for interfering with court-ordered custody arrangements. It makes it a class B felony to knowingly obstruct parenting time (e.g., by enticing a child to leave contact or retaining the child against a court order) or to take a child out of state without court permission during an active custody case. First or second violations of the out-of-state provision carry fines of $250-$500, while third or subsequent offenses become class B felonies. The bill includes an affirmative defense if someone was entitled to parenting time or acting to protect a child from immediate danger (with prior court petition documentation). This directly affects parents, guardians, or others involved in custody disputes who violate court orders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeStrengthens penalties for custody interference, expanding criminalization and increasing felony charges, aligns with 'oppose' indicators of increased penalties.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 21, 2026

HB 109: relative to false reports to law enforcement.

HB 109 makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly report false information about police officer misconduct during official duties, and a class A misdemeanor for false reports about alleged criminal conduct by officers. The bill directly affects individuals who make false allegations against law enforcement officers, creating new criminal penalties for such false reports. Key provisions amend New Hampshire law to specifically criminalize false reports regarding officer misconduct (Section II, misdemeanor) or criminal conduct (Section III, class A misdemeanor). The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and does not impose direct fiscal costs on the state or local governments.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCriminalizes false reports against officers, potentially deterring legitimate misconduct allegations and weakening oversight of law enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

signed · New Hampshire · House May 28, 2026

HB 59: relative to the assault of a firefighter, emergency medical care provider, or law enforcement officer.

HB 59 creates felony-level assault charges for intentionally or recklessly causing serious injury to firefighters (including volunteer and on-call staff), emergency medical care providers, or law enforcement officers while they are performing their duties. It also establishes felony charges for assaults on law enforcement officers due to their employment, even when off-duty. The bill amends criminal code provisions to require warrantless arrests for these offenses and treats such violations as evidence of dangerousness. The law will take effect January 1, 2026, directly affecting these public safety professionals and their legal protections.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new felony assault charges for attacking first responders and officers, increasing penalties rather than promoting reform.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects first responders by imposing felony penalties for assaults during work duties, directly enhancing workplace safety protections for covered workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime Tags Public Safety

signed · New Hampshire · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 622: relative to the offense of identity fraud.

SB 622 expands New Hampshire's identity fraud law to explicitly protect businesses, government agencies, and other organizations (referred to as "entities") alongside individuals. It adds a clear definition of "entity" to include corporations, trusts, government bodies, and their departments, and updates the offense to cover fraud committed against these entities. The bill makes it a crime to obtain or use someone's personal information (like account numbers or passwords) without authorization to impersonate an entity or assist others in doing so. This change directly affects organizations that could face financial harm from identity fraud targeting their accounts or data. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local cost impact.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of identity fraud to cover entities, directly aligning with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands identity fraud law to protect businesses/government entities from unauthorized use of personal data, strengthening data privacy safeguards per bill's explicit definition of 'entity'.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy