Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 411 · 2025 · House · Transportation Committee

Secondary offense for phone use while driving

AI-generated

relative to making the use of a mobile electronic device while driving a secondary offense.

Makes the prohibition on using a mobile electronic device while driving a secondary offense enforceable only when a driver is stopped for another suspected violation.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes that the offense prohibiting the use of mobile electronic devices while driving is a secondary offense only enforceable when a driver of a motor vehicle has been stopped for a suspected violation of another provision of Title XXI or some other offense.

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

“Enforcement of this section by law enforcement agencies shall be accomplished only as a secondary offense when a driver of a motor vehicle has been stopped for a suspected violation of another provision of Title XXI or some other offense.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Mark WardenR

Public testimony

20 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

60% support40% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I urge you to SUPPORT HB411 as this bill is just common sense.…”
— James Gardner, Keenesupports
“With distracted driving becoming more and more the obvious cause of many vehicle accidents and injuries, we should not decrease the penalties for such behavior.”
— Edward Haas, Keeneopposes
“This is a bad bill. I've lost count of the number of idiots on phones who have almost run me off the road. They're worse than drunks and absolutely should be stopped and ticketed to the maximum extent possible.”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonopposes
“Improper use of cell phones / mobile devices when driving is known to be highly distracting and the cause of many crashes resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.…”
— David Topham, Salemopposes

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 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation1:11:03–1:14:403m 37slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Transportation28:02–32:524m 50slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 10:20 am LOB 203
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 10:00 am LOB 203
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 24
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 44

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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