New Hampshire HB 1239: relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

Bill Text

HB 1239-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3095

 09/06

HOUSE BILL 1239-FN

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Devoid, Merr. 1; Rep. Lascelles, Hills. 14; Rep. Paquette, Hills. 25; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits certain registered offenders who are required to register due to a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age from appearing within 1,000 feet of certain locations under circumstances that would warrant alarm.

 This bill is a request of the department of safety.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3095

 09/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Paragraph; Loitering or Prowling. Amend RSA 644:6 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph: 

 I-a. A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age, knowingly appears within 1,000 feet of any of the following places under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons in the vicinity: 

 (a) Any childcare facility.

 (b) Any church.

 (c) Any school.

 (d) Any area where a reasonable person would know that minor children congregate.

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-3095

 10/29/25

HB 1239-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Revenue Fund

None

 Expenditures*

Indeterminable

 Funding Source

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association