Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 369 · 2025 · House · Judiciary Committee

Misdemeanor sexual assault trial procedures

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to misdemeanor sexual assault prosecutions and relative to the duty to report for sexual offenders and offenders against children.

Requires defendants charged with misdemeanor sexual assault of a minor to elect between a jury-waived circuit court trial or an appeal to superior court, and clarifies sexual offenders' duty to report to local law enforcement.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires a defendant charged with a misdemeanor sexual assault of a minor under the age of 16 to elect whether to proceed in circuit court and waive his or her right to a jury trial or to immediately appeal to superior court for a jury trial.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Marie Louise BjelobrkRClerk· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Claudine BurnhamRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

25% support38% oppose38% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please do not pass this bill. People are not animals to be “put down” when they are no longer healthy or well. Life is a gift from God, and the time and place of death is in His hands.…”
— Maryanne McAden, ROLLINSFORDopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-01-299:30 amHouse JudiciaryLOB 206-208Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1910:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-171:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-05-131:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Judiciary HJ 2 P. 17
  2. Jan 29, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  3. Jan 29, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 206-208
  4. Feb 3, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0167h 02/03/2025 (Vote 11-1; RC) HC 11 P. 15
  5. Feb 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0167h: AA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 38
  6. Feb 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0167h: MA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 38
  7. Feb 13, 2025HouseReferred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 39
  8. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  9. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  10. Mar 19, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/19/2025 (Vote 14-1; CC) HC 17 P. 9
  11. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 11
  12. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  13. Apr 17, 2025SenHearing: 04/17/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 17
  14. May 13, 2025SenHearing: 05/13/2025, Room 100, SH, 02:30 pm, on proposed amendment #2025-1875s; SC 21
  15. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2168s, 05/22/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 22
  16. May 22, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2168s, AA, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  17. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2168s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  18. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2168s (Rep. Lynn): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 14
  19. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  20. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  21. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 182; eff. 01/01/2026 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.