New Hampshire HB 257: establishing the crime of criminal neglect of a child.
Status: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT) 10/22/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) (as of 2025-11-13)
State: New Hampshire · Session: 2025 · Bill: HB 257
Sponsors: Skip A. Rollins, Brian M Sullivan, Cassandra N Levesque, Diane Pauer, Hope E Damon, Michael I Moffett, Ruth Ward
Bill Text
HB 257-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE 8Jan2026... 1038h 2025 SESSION 25-0317 09/05 HOUSE BILL 257-FN AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. SPONSORS: Rep. Rollins, Sull. 3; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Sen. Ward, Dist 8 COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill amends the mental state applicable to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type. 8Jan2026... 1038h 25-0317 09/05 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Endangering Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. Amend RSA 639:3, I to read as follows: I. A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent if he [knowingly] recklessly endangers the welfare of a child under 18 years of age or of an incompetent person by [purposely] recklessly violating a duty of care, protection or support he owes to such child or incompetent, or by inducing such child or incompetent to engage in conduct that endangers his health or safety. 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026. LBA 25-0317 1/14/26 HB 257-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2025-1038h) AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. 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
View New Hampshire HB 257 on LegisTrack → — full text, sponsors, votes, campaign finance, and cross-state matches.