HB 1238-FN
relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗Open this bill in the searchable view → · Follow this bill by RSS
On the record
Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.
| Status | HOUSE |
|---|---|
| In the House | INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE |
| Introduced | 1/7/2026 |
| Floor date | 3/5/2026 |
| LSR number | 3085 |
| Local government impact | no |
| Committee code | H26 |
Where it stands
House: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.
Sponsors
Roy, Terry(R) Rock 31, Abbas, Daryl(R) Rock 22, Birdsell, Regina(R) Rock 19, Devoid, Ricky(R) Merr 1, Gannon, Bill(R) Rock 23, Lascelles, Richard(R) Hills 14, Mannion, Dennis(R) Rock 25, Paquette, Kathleen(R) Hills 25, Rhodes, Jennifer(R) Ches 17, Trottier, Douglas(R) Belk 8
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.
What happened
Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.
- January 7, 2026Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
- January 29, 2026Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 01:30 pm GP 159
- February 13, 2026Executive Session: 02/13/2026 01:30 pm GP 159
- February 24, 2026Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/13/2026 (Vote 9-4; RC)
- February 24, 2026Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- March 5, 2026Ought to Pass: MF DV 155-194 03/05/2026
- March 5, 2026Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026
Votes
Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.
Inexpedient to Legislate
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Ought to Pass
Decided on a division vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Committee reports
Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.
Majority — OUGHT TO PASS
This bill provides a necessary felony enhancement for individuals who willfully flee from law enforcement and cause serious bodily injury or death. 32 27 FEBRUARY 2026 HOUSE RECORD While the minority characterizes this as “impulsive” behavior, the reality is a national crisis where pursuits claim at least 3,336 lives annually, nearly two deaths every day. Most critically, this risk extends to our first responders; nationally, officers account for up to 15% of all pursuit-related injuries, and just this month, three New Hampshire officers were involved in a pursuit-related crash on I-93. With New Hampshire seeing a 42% increase in traffic fatalities over the last decade, our laws must prioritize the lives of law-abiding citizens and officers over the future convenience of those who transform a motor vehicle into a deadly weapon. Misdemeanor penalties are wholly inadequate when a defendant’s conscious choice to flee results in the maiming or death of a neighbor or an officer. Vote 9-4.
Minority — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE
This bill turns a misdemeanor into a felony by increasing the penalty for driving away from the police after one has been stopped. Such conduct, often by impulsive young people, is not of the kind where the individual contemplates the penalty before they act. And, it likely tags a younger person with a felony conviction that will stay with them the rest of their life, making it harder to get housing, get a job or get student loans. This bill is unneeded.
Hearings and recordings
Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.
- January 29, 2026 at 13:30Criminal Justice and Public Safety public hearing recording 4:28:30–4:31:05, about 3 min (estimated)
- February 13, 2026 at 13:30Criminal Justice and Public Safety executive session recording 2:25:52–2:29:01, about 3 min (estimated)
- March 5, 2026House floor debate recording (start time not identified)
Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]