HB 1423 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Improper influence and kratom ban

(New Title) relative to the offense of improper influence and making synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research.

Expands the offense of improper influence to include threats against immediate family members of public servants, party officials, or voters, sets mandatory minimum penalties, and makes synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal except for scientific research.AI-generated

Status

Recommended for passage but never voted; died at adjournment · May 14, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✕Senate
Governor
Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Expands the offense of improper influence to include threats to immediate family members of a public servant, party official, or voter and provides mandatory minimum penalties for the certain violations of the offense. II. Makes synthetic and semisynthetic kratom illegal to prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise, with exceptions made for scientific research.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Immediate family member" means a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or any person residing in the same household as the public servant, party official, or voter.”

RSA 640:3

“An alkaloid or alkaloid derivative that has been created by chemical synthesis or biosynthetic means, including fermentation, recombinant techniques, yeast derived, and enzymatic techniques, rather than traditional food preparation techniques, such as heating or extracting that synthetically alters the composition of any kratom alkaloid or constituent; or II.”

RSA 318-B:51

“No person or entity person shall prepare, distribute, manufacture, sell, possess, or advertise synthetic or semisynthetic kratom, unless such preparation, distribution, manufacturing, sale, possession, or advertisement is undertaken for the sole purpose of scientific research.”

RSA 318-B:52

“Shall preclude eligibility for parole until the mandatory minimum term has been served; and (e) Are in addition to any other penalties that may be imposed.”

RSA 640:3

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

13% support88% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“HB 1423 is unnecessary and harmful. Existing laws already address threats, and mandatory minimums undermine judicial judgment without improving safety.”

— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketopposes

“Testimony on HB 1423: Relative to the Offense of Improper Influence I strongly oppose HB 1423 due to its underpinnings that risk eroding public trust in our political and judicial systems.…”

— georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass7–5
Overall
58% yea
Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted174–158
Overall
52% yea
Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
Overall
60% yea
May 14, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
Overall
60% yea
May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1976sadopted
May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1976sadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
May 21, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1976s (Rep. Roy)adopted

Hearings and debates

Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety5:41:52–5:42:591m 7slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:02:15–2:06:123m 57slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 174-158
Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing
May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor9:57:19–10:00:413m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1976s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1976s — adopted, voice vote
May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor33:41–35:221m 41slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1976s (Rep. Roy) — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 19
Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 02:30 pm GP 159
Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 159
Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/18/2026 (Vote 7-5; RC) HC 10 P. 33
Mar 2, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 174-158 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 79
Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
Mar 31, 2026Sen==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:35 pm; SC 12
Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/16/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 14
May 14, 2026SenSpecial Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 04/16/2026 SJ 9
May 14, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18
May 14, 2026SenSen. Abbas Floor Amendment # 2026-1976s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1976s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 21, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1976s (Rep. Roy): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 2

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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