New Hampshire HB 1185: relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

Bill Text

HB 1185-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2697

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1185-FN

AN ACT relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. 

SPONSORS: Rep. Markell, Rock. 18; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 18; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Sen. Long, Dist 20

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

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ANALYSIS

 This bill redefines the crime of endangering of the welfare of a child or incompetent, and adds revised penalties for the violation thereof.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2697

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the offense 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 the Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. RSA 639:3 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

 639:3 Endangering Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. 

 I. Any person who owes a child under 18 years of age, or an incompetent, a duty of care, protection, or support, and violates all or any portion of those duties, or induces such child or incompetent to engage in conduct that endangers the safety or health of such child or incompetent, by engaging in conduct or a pattern of conduct so as to expose the child or incompetent to a substantial and unjustifiable risk of serious bodily injury or death, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor if such endangerment was negligent, and a class B felony if knowing. 

 II. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section shall be guilty of a class B felony. 

 III. If a person violates paragraph I by negligently engaging in conduct or a pattern of conduct that endangers the safety or health of such child or incompetent, and as a result of such exposure, causes serious bodily injury or death of the child or incompetent, the person shall be guilty of a class A felony. 

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

 LBA

 26-2697

 10/27/25

HB 1185-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the offense 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