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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 allows for additional annulments, resentencings, or discontinuations of prosecutions for certain cannabis offenses.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

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

Hearings

  • 2025-01-2310:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-03-251:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

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.