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SB 267 · 2025 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Fine for patronizing prostitution

AI-generated

relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.

Establishes a mandatory $500 fine for patronizing prostitution, directed to the human trafficking collaborative task force, and raises the penalty for paying or offering to pay for sexual contact from a misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 29, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes a mandatory $500 fine for engaging in prostitution as a patron, in addition to any other penalty, and directs that the funds are to be forwarded to the department of justice for the purposes of funding the New Hampshire human trafficking collaborative task force. This bill also enhances the penalty for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay another person to engage in sexual contact or penetration with the payor or another person from a misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.

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

“In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the court shall levy a fine of $500 for each conviction under this section where the court finds that the defendant engaged in prostitution as a patron.”
Section 260:1
“RSA 645:2, I(f), relative to misdemeanor offense for paying, agreeing to pay, or offering to pay for sexual contact or penetration, is repealed.”
Section 260:4
“The court shall not reduce or suspend any sentence or the payment of any fine imposed under this paragraph.”
Section 260:1
“If the court determines that the defendant is unable to pay the fine on the date imposed, the court may defer payment or order periodic payments thereof.”
Section 260:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Donovan FentonDPrime
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. Pat LongD, Rep. Nancy MurphyD

Public testimony

20 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

55% support40% oppose5% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Sonia Powell, and I have been a resident of Nashua, NH for over 40 years. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.…”
— Sonia Powell, Nashuasupports
“My name is Wilson Powell Jr, and I have been a resident of Nashua, NH for over 40 years. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.…”
— Wilson Powell, Jr, Nashuasupports
“My name is Olivia Powell, and I am a former NH resident. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.…”
— Olivia Powell, Nashuasupports
“Perhaps the legislature should also determine if the drug abuse problem is caused not by sellers but by buyers, and try to eliminate it with hefty penalties on purchasers.”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordneutral

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 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2025-0713sadopted
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0713sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass14–2
    Overall
    88% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseRoll callLay SB267 on Table (Rep. Harrington)Failed110–253How they voted
    Overall
    30% yea
    Republicans
    88–11144% yea
    Democrats
    21–14213% yea
    Other
    1–0100% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2025-2330h (Rep. Rhodes)adopted
  • May 22, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2330hAdopted292–72How they voted
    Overall
    80% yea
    Republicans
    147–5274% yea
    Democrats
    145–1988% yea
    Other
    0–10% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 26, 2025HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2913eadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 20, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary5:43–35:2329m 40slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:22:00–4:26:524m 52slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0713s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2025-0713s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:51:32–4:08:1616m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:10:39–2:11:541m 15slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floor29:33–32:473m 14slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2330h — adopted, roll call 292-72; FLAM # 2025-2330h (Rep. Rhodes) — adopted, voice vote; Lay SB267 on Table (Rep. Harrington) — failed, roll call 110-253
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor26:28–27:1648slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2913e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2913e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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, 01:00 pm; SC 10
  3. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025, Vote 4-0; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2025-0713s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0713s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 113
  7. Apr 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/11/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  8. Apr 23, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  9. Apr 25, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  10. Apr 30, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 04/30/2025 (Vote 14-2; RC)
  11. May 14, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  12. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB267 on Table (Rep. Harrington): MF RC 110-253 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 12
  13. May 22, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2330h (Rep. Rhodes): AA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 15
  14. May 22, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2330h: MA RC 292-72 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 15
  15. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  16. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2913e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  17. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2913e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  18. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  19. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  20. Jul 29, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/29/2025; Chapter 260; 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.