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HB 419 · 2025 · House · Transportation Committee

Headlights required with windshield wipers

AI-generated

requiring vehicle headlights to be on when windshield wipers are also on.

Requires that vehicle headlights be turned on whenever windshield wipers are in operation while the vehicle is being driven.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires that headlights must be turned on whenever windshield wipers are in use.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The headlamp shall throw sufficient light ahead within the traveled portion of the way to make clearly visible all vehicles, persons, or substantial objects within a distance of 200 feet, except that the headlamps of motorcycles shall be sufficient if they make clearly visible objects within a distance of 150 feet.”
Section 1
“No headlamp shall be used unless it is approved by the director and is equipped with a proper lens or other device designed to prevent glaring rays.”
Section 1
“All headlamps on every motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches from the ground on an unladen vehicle.”
Section 1
“No device which obstructs, reflects, or alters the beam of such headlamp shall be used in connection therewith unless approved by the director.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Philip JonesDPrime

Rep. Erik JohnsonD, Rep. Marc PlamondonD

Public testimony

11 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

55% support45% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I believe in this wholeheartedly. If wipers are on, that means you have compromised visual field. Having your lights on and not just running lights, makes the roads safer.”
— Jennifer Suitter, Merrimacksupports

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–6
    Overall
    63% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted227–129How they voted
    Overall
    64% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    199–1100% yea
    Democrats
    28–12818% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation1:18:28–1:19:371m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse TransportationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation5:57:47–6:05:267m 39slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor6:17:34–6:20:062m 32slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 227-129

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Transportation HJ 3 P. 8
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 11:20 am LOB 203
  3. Feb 11, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 02/11/2025 02:00 pm LOB 203
  4. Feb 18, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 02/18/2025 02:00 pm LOB 203
  5. Feb 18, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2025 (Vote 10-6; RC) HC 14 P. 30
  6. Feb 25, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 227-129 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 86

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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