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SB 23 · 2025 · Senate · Children and Family Law Committee

Expanding child endangerment crime definition

AI-generated

expanding the crime of endangering the welfare of a child.

Expands what constitutes endangering the welfare of a child by adding additional prohibited conduct.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill expands what constitutes endangering the welfare of a child by adding additional violative conduct.

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

“A person who endangers the welfare of a child or incompetent by violating paragraph IV-b of this section shall be guilty of a class A felony.”
RSA 639:3
“For the purposes of this section, "pattern" means committing more than one act under paragraph I over a period of 2 months or more and within a period of 5 years.”
RSA 639:3
“No person acting in accordance with the provisions of RSA 132-A shall be guilty of an offense under this section.”
RSA 639:3

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Pat LongDPrime

Rep. Alicia GreggD

Public testimony

18 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

89% support11% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Expanding the crime of endangering the welfare of a child will aid in protecting our children, if child welfare laws are repealed.”
— Nancy Donahue, Camptonsupports
“We need to continue protecting our children form the many, many abuses of child labor.”
— Cynthia Vascak, Camptonsupports
“This is a good bill to help protect children in New Hampshire.”
— Megan Kilar, Candiasupports
“This bill does penalty pile-on just like so-called "hate crime" statutes. This is not law-making; it is sausage-making sticking in crap for citizens to eat. Want to see an incoherent statement?…”
— 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
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassFailed154–188How they voted
    Overall
    45% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    7–1854% yea
    Democrats
    147–398% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted190–152How they voted
    Overall
    56% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    184–896% yea
    Democrats
    6–1444% yea
  • May 8, 2025HouseRoll callReconsider ITL (Rep. H. Howard)Failed158–206How they voted
    Overall
    43% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    1–2000% yea
    Democrats
    157–696% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law30:54–38:267m 32slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Children and Family Law43:49–44:1425slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floor59:32–1:11:3011m 58slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, roll call 154-188; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 190-152
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:26:26–1:31:375m 11slocated in the stream transcriptReconsider ITL (Rep. H. Howard) — failed, roll call 158-206

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025SenIntroduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 2
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 103, SH, 11:30 am; SC 5
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/13/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Children and Family Law HJ 11 P. 109
  6. Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 10:15 am LOB 206-208
  7. Apr 8, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/08/2025 10:15 am LOB 206-208
  8. Apr 8, 2025House: Ought to Pass 04/08/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 22 P. 7
  9. Apr 29, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Tom Mannion, Love, Bernardy, Drye, D. Kelley, Panek, Sirois, Bean, Drago, Granger) 04/29/2025
  10. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MF RC 154-188 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 23
  11. May 1, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 190-152 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 23
  12. May 2, 2025HouseNotice of Reconsideration (Rep. H. Howard) 05/02/2025
  13. May 8, 2025HouseReconsider ITL (Rep. H. Howard): MF RC 158-206 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 28

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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