Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 776 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Aggravated DWI law and state marsupial

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the crime of aggravated driving while intoxicated and relative to proclaiming the Virginia opossum the state marsupial of New Hampshire.

Adds wrong-way driving as an aggravating factor for aggravated driving while intoxicated and designates the Virginia opossum as the state marsupial.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill adds wrong-way driving to the list of aggravating factors that can elevate a driving while intoxicated offense to an aggravated driving while intoxicated offense. This bill also proclaims the Virginia opossum the state marsupial of New Hampshire and renames such opossums within the borders of the state as "New Hampshire opossums."

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is hereby designated as the official state marsupial of New Hampshire and such opossums found within our borders shall be known as "New Hampshire opossums." 290:4 Effective Date.”
RSA 3:32

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Terry RoyRPrimeChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRVice Chair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader

Also: Rep. Mark ProulxR

Public testimony

21 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

86% support14% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I served on the Citizens Advisory Board to the NH Correctional Facility for Women for 10 years. One of our biggest concerns was the staff shortage of correctional officers, necessitating mandatory overtime and additional expense.…”
— Liz Tentarelli, Manchestersupports
“I strongly support this Bill. In Texas, this crime (I call it a crime) occurs far far too often, including again last week. In Texas, if someone is killed, these drivers are charged with intoxicated manslaughter; and juries typically sentence individuals to 20 years.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonsupports
“As a resident of Nashua who travels between exits 4 and 8 on an almost daily basis, the occurrences of wrong-way drivers on the Everett Turnpike is especially staggering.…”
— Faith Eherts, Nashuasupports
“Accidentally turning wrong way on one-way due to inebriation is hardly a choice being made by driver. While the situation is bad, without damage or injury, it does not deserve harsher penalty.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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
  • Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Tableadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Birdsell Moved to Remove From Tableadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2025-2485sadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2485sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2485s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt)adopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2025-2863cadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety4:20:43–4:25:485m 5slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Public Hearing
  • Feb 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:01:50–3:02:581m 8slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:14:38–1:15:451m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary14:53–19:524m 59slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:47:41–1:49:001m 19slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Pending Motion Ought to Pass; HB 776 was Removed from the Consent Calendar
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2485s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, C. McGuire, Rhodes, A. Murray
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floor8:33:51–8:34:561m 5slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2485s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2025-2485s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Birdsell Moved to Remove From Table — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2863c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2863c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:50:00–3:51:331m 33slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2025-2863c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 27
  2. Feb 6, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/06/2025 02:15 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Feb 12, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 02/12/2025 02:15 pm LOB 202-204
  4. Feb 21, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 02/21/2025 01:00 pm LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  6. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  7. Mar 19, 2025House: Ought to Pass 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 11
  8. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 15
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  10. Apr 8, 2025SenHearing: 04/08/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 16
  11. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  12. May 1, 2025SenHB 776 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  13. May 1, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  14. May 1, 2025SenPending Motion Ought to Pass; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Birdsell Moved to Remove From Table, MA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  16. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Fenton Floor Amendment # 2025-2485s, AA, VV; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2485s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 06/05/2025; SJ 15
  18. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2485s and Requests CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 168
  19. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, C. McGuire, Rhodes, A. Murray 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 168
  20. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  21. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gannon, Birdsell, Fenton; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  22. Jun 18, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/18/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  23. Jun 12, 2025HouseConferee Change: Rep. D. Mannion Replaces C. McGuire 06/12/2025
  24. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2863c; 06/26/2025
  25. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2863c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  26. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2863c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 22
  27. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  28. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63
  29. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 290; eff. I. Sec 1-2 eff. 01/01/2026 II. Rem eff. 09/30/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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