New Hampshire HB 414: limiting parental liability under a CHINS petition in certain circumstances.

Bill Text

HB 414-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

 25-0886

 11/09

HOUSE BILL 414-FN

AN ACT prohibiting the division of motor vehicles from suspending a license on the basis of debt owed to a private entity related to the towing or storing of a motor vehicle.

SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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ANALYSIS

 This bill prohibits the division of motor vehicles from suspending a person's license or driving privileges based on their failure to pay a debt related to a commercial entity's towing or storage of a vehicle.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 25-0886

 11/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT prohibiting the division of motor vehicles from suspending a license on the basis of debt owed to a private entity related to the towing or storing of a motor vehicle.

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

 1 New Section; License Suspension; Failure to Pay Fines and Fees. Amend RSA 263 by inserting after section 56-g the following new section:

 263:56-h License Suspension Prohibited for Unpaid Towing or Storage Fees.

 I. Under no circumstances shall the director suspend, revoke, or fail to renew a driver's license for failure to pay removal and storage fees for a vehicle towed or stored for any reason.

 II. A person whose driver's license has been suspended for outstanding vehicle removal or storage fees and who is otherwise eligible to drive shall have their driver's license reinstated and shall not be required to pay a reinstatement fee. No later than 30 days after the effective date of this section, the division shall, without requiring a reinstatement fee, reinstate the driver's license or nonresident operating privilege. In cases where a driver's license was not renewed due to outstanding removal and storage fees, the person shall be immediately eligible for license renewal and shall pay the same renewal fee as a driver not under suspension, but not a separate reinstatement fee.

 2 License Suspension Restricted. Amend RSA 263:57, I to read as follows:

 I. Any justice of [a district or municipal court] the circuit court or of the superior court may suspend any license issued to any person, for a period not to exceed 30 days, after a conviction of an offense under the provisions of this title, after [due hearing] a hearing where the driver had reasonable notice of the possibility of license suspension prior to the hearing, for any cause not prohibited in RSA 263, which he or she may deem sufficient.

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 25-0886

 1/2/25

HB 414-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT prohibiting the division of motor vehicles from suspending a license on the basis of debt owed to a private entity related to the towing or storing of a motor vehicle.

FISCAL IMPACT:

 The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

 Department of Safety