HB 59-FN (2026): relative to the assault of a firefighter, emergency medical care provider, or law enforcement officer.

HB 59-FN (2026)

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

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
• Senate committee: Judiciary
• Subject: Crimes, Criminal Procedure and Corrections
• Chapter law: 79

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 31, 2025, with 53 people signed in online: 10 in support and 43 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 21, 2025 and February 26, 2025. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0590h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0590h) was adopted on a division vote 190–172 on March 13, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 13, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 196–179. It crossed to the Senate on March 13, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 3, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate send it back to committee, and the report was placed on the consent calendar. On May 1, 2025 the Senate voted to send it back to committee on a voice vote. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3083s). The committee's amendment (2025-3083s) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 9, 2026 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-3083s” on a division vote 199–155, on a motion by Rep. Terry Roy. The bill was enrolled on May 7, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-1557e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on May 22, 2026, making it Chapter 79 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Dennis Mannion (R - Rock 25) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Stephen Pearson (R - Rock 13)
• Rep. Mark Proulx (R - Hills 15)
• Rep. Terry Roy (R - Rock 31)
• Rep. Sheila Seidel (R - Hills 29)
• Sen. Daryl Abbas (R - SD22)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 31, 2025, 10:00 AM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• February 21, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• February 26, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• March 13, 2025: floor debate, House
• April 3, 2025, 1:45 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100
• May 1, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• April 9, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 13, 2025, House: Adopt Committee Amendment — yeas 190, nays 172, passed
• March 13, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 196, nays 179, passed
• May 1, 2025, Senate: Rereferred to Committee — voice vote, passed
• January 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-3083s — voice vote, passed
• April 9, 2026, House: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-3083s — yeas 199, nays 155, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 631:1
• RSA 631:2
• RSA 651:6

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 15
• SC 19
• SJ 1
• HJ 10, page 8
• SJ 11
• HJ 11, page 83
• SJ 12
• HJ 12, page 40
• House Calendar 15, 2025, committee report