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HB 196 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Annulling past cannabis possession offenses

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to annulling certain cannabis possession offenses.

Requires annulment, upon petition, of misdemeanor or violation-level cannabis possession offenses committed before January 1, 2025.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires the annulment of misdemeanor or violation-level offenses for possession of cannabis prior to January 1, 2025 upon petition.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Convictions and arrests for misdemeanor or violation-level offenses for possession of cannabis prior to January 1, 2025 shall be annulled by the department of safety and the courts upon petition by a person who has been convicted of such an offense.”
RSA 651:5-c
“Any person who believes that he or she is eligible for annulment pursuant to this section may request that the department of safety examine his or her arrest or conviction to determine whether it should be annulled.”
RSA 651:5-c
“Should the department of safety fail to annul a qualified record, any person so aggrieved may petition the court without fee for further review of eligibility.”
RSA 651:5-c
“Eligible annulments of convictions and violations pursuant to this section shall be granted notwithstanding the existence of outstanding court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs, assessments, or charges.”
RSA 651:5-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jonah WheelerDPrime
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Ellen ReadDDeputy Ranking Member· Housing

Also: Rep. Wendy ThomasD

Public testimony

40 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Having spend time helping to craft various bills over the past six years I can attest to the frustration when it comes to criminal justice reform around cannabis.…”
— Daryl Eames, Manchester · NH Cannabis Association Constituentssupports
“[Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness.…”
— Brian Homer, North STRATFORDsupports
“I am not a fan of marijuana, but I strongly believe discontinuing prosecutions for MJ convictions makes sense. In addition annulling or resentencing those convicted of MJ offenses makes sense and is humane.”
— Linda Haskins, Exetersupports
“We have been through all this many times before. Besides, Gov Ayotte will veto.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I oppose this bill and ask you to as well. While this sounds like a good bill, you need to keep in mind that many people plead down to simple possession charges when their original charges could have included distribution or intent to distribute, etc. so while a convicted charge may appear to be a simple possession charge, they could have started out dealing and pled down.…”
— Celeste Clark, Raymondopposes

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 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0192h (NT)13–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 0192hadopted
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 0192hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:06:48–2:13:286m 40slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 0192h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 0192h — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 25, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:47:10–1:51:544m 44slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 10
  2. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 12:00 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Jan 23, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/23/2025 12:00 pm LOB 202-204
  4. Feb 5, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0192h (NT) 02/05/2025 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 12 P. 3
  5. Feb 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 0192h: AA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 2
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 0192h: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 2
  7. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  8. Mar 25, 2025SenHearing: 03/25/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 14
  9. May 22, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/22/2025; SC 22
  10. May 22, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/22/2025; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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