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SB 262 · 2025 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Harsher penalties for child trafficking

AI-generated

relative to the penalty for trafficking in persons under 18 years of age.

Increases the penalty for trafficking persons under 18 years of age to 18 years to life imprisonment.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill increases the penalty for certain offenses involving the trafficking of persons under 18 years of age to 18 years to life imprisonment.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“A person shall be guilty of a class A felony if such person maintains or makes available an individual under 18 years of age for the purpose of engaging the individual in a commercial sex act or sexually-explicit performance for the benefit of another.”
Section 124:1
“A person convicted under this paragraph shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than [7] 18 years and a maximum term of not more than [30 years] life imprisonment.”
Section 124:1
“Knowledge of the individual's actual age shall not be required as an element of this offense.”
Section 124:1
“Consent of the individual shall not constitute a defense to a charge under this paragraph.”
Section 124:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Kristin NobleRChair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Also: Rep. Katherine Prudhomme-O'BrienR, Rep. Glenn CordelliR

Public testimony

4 signed in online

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 23, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass9–7
    Overall
    56% yea
  • May 8, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted290–71How they voted
    Overall
    80% yea
    Republicans
    196–498% yea
    Democrats
    94–6758% yea
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 20, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary43:58–51:367m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:05:20–2:06:281m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:07:38–2:08:481m 10slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:20:51–1:26:125m 21slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 290-71
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3
  2. Feb 20, 2025SenHearing: 02/20/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 10
  3. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 113
  6. Apr 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/11/2025 12:00 pm LOB 202-204
  7. Apr 23, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  8. Apr 25, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  9. Apr 23, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 04/23/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 23 P. 12
  10. Apr 30, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  11. May 8, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 290-71 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 25
  12. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 24
  13. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  14. Jun 24, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/24/2025; Chapter 0124; Effective 01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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