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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 is at the request of the department of safety.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

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

Hearings

  • 2025-02-0610:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearingcancelled
  • 2025-02-1210:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-02-211:00 pmHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1910:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-081:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

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.