SB 15-FN (2026): 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.

SB 15-FN (2026)

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.

• Status: Died: the chambers did not agree on a version
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
• Senate committee: Judiciary
• Subject: Crimes, Criminal Procedure and Corrections

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 14, 2025. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0142s). The committee's amendment (2025-0142s) was rejected on a voice vote on January 30, 2025. A floor amendment (2025-0165s), offered by Sen. David Rochefort, was adopted on a voice vote on January 30, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On January 30, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it with changes and ordered it to a third reading. It crossed to the House on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 9, 2025, with 98 people signed in online: 7 in support and 91 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on April 23, 2025 and May 9, 2025. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee met in executive session on October 22, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee held a work session on October 22, 2025. The committee held a public hearing on October 23, 2025 on a proposed non-germane amendment (2025-3012h). The committee met in executive session on November 13, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3096h), 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 (2025-3096h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 179–159. On February 5, 2026 the Senate voted to reject the other chamber's changes on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Bill Gannon. On February 5, 2026 the Senate adopted “Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection”.

Sponsors

• Sen. Bill Gannon (R - SD23) (prime sponsor)
• Sen. James Gray (R - SD6)
• Sen. Timothy Lang (R - SD2)
• Sen. Regina Birdsell (R - SD19)
• Sen. Kevin Avard (R - SD12)
• Sen. Daryl Abbas (R - SD22)
• Rep. Melissa Litchfield (R - Rock 32)
• Rep. Aboul Khan (R - Rock 30)
• Rep. Michael Vose (R - Rock 5)
• Rep. Lilli Walsh (R - Rock 15)
• Rep. JD Bernardy (R - Rock 36)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 14, 2025, 1:15 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100
• January 30, 2025: floor debate, Senate
• April 9, 2025, 10:30 AM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• April 23, 2025, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• May 9, 2025, 11:01 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• October 22, 2025, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, GP 230
• October 22, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, GP 230
• November 13, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, GP 159
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 5, 2026: floor debate, Senate

Votes

• January 30, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 14, nays 9, passed
• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 179, nays 159, passed
• February 5, 2026, Senate: Nonconcur with the House Amendment — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 651:2
• RSA 622:7
• RSA 622

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• SC 5
• SC 7A
• HC 51, page 22
• HJ 1, pages 92 and 94