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HB 1308 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Stopped school bus passing penalty

AI-generated

relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.

Increases penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus, authorizes bus camera footage as identification evidence, and mandates license suspension for first and repeat offenses.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill increases penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus, authorizes bus camera footage as identification evidence, and mandates license suspension for first and repeat offenses.

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

“Testimony under oath from the school bus driver or other witness that a vehicle failed to stop and remain stopped as required by paragraph I shall be sufficient evidence to prove that the owner of the vehicle was driving and has violated the provisions of paragraph I, unless such evidence is rebutted or contradicted.”
Section 163:1
“The camera footage from the bus may be used as evidence to identify the vehicle owner or operator and shall be made available by subpoena.”
Section 163:1
“The owner of a vehicle cited for a school bus law violation shall also have access to the recording or to a copy of the recording, if requested.”
Section 163:1
“Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I shall be guilty of a [violation] class B misdemeanor and shall be fined [$150] $300 plus penalty assessment for a first offense[, and shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 for a subsequent offense.”
Section 163:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Henry GiassonRPrime
  • Rep. Erica LayonRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Sherri ReinfurtRClerk· Housing

Also: Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Jay MarkellR, Rep. Seth MillerD, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

34 signed in online · 16 wrote testimony

91% support0% oppose9% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I fully support this Bill. I have two young sons and my oldest is in Kindergarten. He loves riding the bus to and from school but I always worry about people passing the bus when it stops to drop off and pick up students.”
— Rachel Palmer, Litchfieldsupports
“Running a school bus stop sign and putting childrens lives in danger should carry a much higher fine and punishment than what we currently have in place.”
— Andrea Lobas, Nashuasupports
“I am a school bus driver for First Student Inc. Located in Nashua NH. Our police force doesnt enforce the law pertaining to this matter regardless of filing reports and plate numbers. The dangers are a daily safety issues at all bus stops and school zones.…”
— Mariah Jean Mariah Jean, Nashuasupports
“Why not make these felonies? The senate is in love with manufacturing as many new felons as they can for what was previously misdemeanors. You have to keep up.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaneutral
“A mandatory license suspension based on the word of an “other witness” invites the weaponization of the court by unscrupulous people who may have a grudge against their neighbor or coparent. The high resolution camera on the stop bar (HB 1537) is a good idea.…”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokeneutral

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 30, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:18:53–1:20:131m 20slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0523h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0523 — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 19, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary19:53–27:397m 46slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1513s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor27:40–28:501m 10slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1513s (Rep. Rhodes) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor 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 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 14
  2. Jan 30, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  3. Jan 30, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 13, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0523h 02/13/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0523: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0523h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6
  7. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6
  8. Mar 19, 2026SenHearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 10
  9. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
  10. Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1513s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  12. May 7, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1513s (Rep. Rhodes): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 4
  13. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  14. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  15. Jun 19, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 163; eff.01/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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