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HB 1308-FN

relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.

Filed 2026 · Signed into law · Criminal Justice and Public Safety · Motor Vehicles

Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗

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On the record

Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.

StatusSIGNED BY GOVERNOR
In the HouseCONCURRED
In the SenatePASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
Introduced1/7/2026
Floor date5/7/2026
LSR number2882
Chapter0163
Local government impactno
Committee codeH26

Bill text (PDF) ↗

Where it stands

House: CONCURRED · Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT

Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.

A bill goes on the consent calendar when the committee vote was unanimous or nearly so, and any members who dissented did not object to placing it there. It then passes without floor debate. Ten members may file a petition to pull a bill off the consent calendar and have it debated and voted on separately.

Sponsors

Giasson, Henry(R) Hills 29, Layon, Erica(R) Rock 13, Litchfield, Melissa(R) Rock 32, Markell, Jay(R) Rock 18, Mazur, Lisa(R) Hills 44, Miller, Seth(D) Straf 21, Reinfurt, Sherri(R) Hills 29, Sabourin dit Choinière, Matt(R) Rock 30
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.

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.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0523h

March 5, 2026 · House · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s

April 23, 2026 · Senate · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.

House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1513s (Rep. Rhodes)

May 7, 2026 · House · None–None, adopted

Decided on a voice 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.

Committee — OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT

Rep. Jennifer Rhodes

Along with the committee amendment this legislation will increase penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus, authorizes use of sworn testimony and bus camera footage as evidence, and mandates license suspension for first and repeat offenses, and allows school districts to install and use high definition cameras to identify the operator of the vehicle to issue the imposed penalties for doing so. The committee heard concerning testimony from school bus operators and representatives for the companies that this is a recurring behavior and is proven to be tragic for school age children. School buses are large, yellow, and having flashing lights along with an extended swing arm with a lighted up stop sign is an unmistakable signal for drivers to stop. There simply is no excuse to pass one. Law enforcement can not be everywhere at once. Allowing for the camera footage to be used to help with enforcement will help to protect innocent vulnerable children, identify the vehicle owner, reduce reliance on the drivers giving their attention where it matters most and allow for due process in the event the owner is not the operator at the time of the infraction. Passing a stopped school bus is a conscious decision. By passing this important legislation New Hampshire will make it unequivocally clear that passing a stopped school bus will not be tolerated. Vote 13-0.

Hearings and recordings

Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.

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]