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SB 15 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Hard labor sentencing for serious crimes

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to incorporating hard labor as a sentencing option for capital murder and serious sexual assaults on children, defining hard labor, establishing medical exemptions and penalties for abuse thereof, providing alternative punitive measures for legitimate medical exemptions, and authorizing jury determination of hard labor in qualifying cases.

Establishes hard labor as a sentencing option for capital murder and serious sexual assaults on children, defines hard labor, establishes medical exemptions and penalties for abuse, provides alternative measures for legitimate exemptions, and creates a sentencing appeals panel for prosecution appeals.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · February 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill incorporates hard labor as a sentencing option for certain offenses; establishes medical exemptions and penalties for abuse thereof; provides alternative punitive measures for legitimate medical exemptions; and establishes a sentencing appeals panel for prosecution appeals related to hard labor sentences.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“An offender may be exempted from hard labor only upon a determination of medical inability by a qualified physician employed by or contracted with the department of corrections.”
RSA 622:7-c
“If an offender sentenced to hard labor under RSA 651:2, II(i) receives a legitimate medical exemption under RSA 622:7-a or if hard labor is suspended due to insufficient staffing under RSA 622:7, III, the commissioner shall impose alternative punitive measures to ensure the sentence maintains a retributive component, including but not limited to:”
RSA 622:7-d
““Medical inability” means a documented physical or mental condition that substantially impairs the offender’s capacity to perform the essential functions of assigned hard labor tasks, even with reasonable accommodations, as certified in writing with reference to specific diagnostic criteria, such as based on standards from the American Medical Association or equivalent.”
RSA 622:7-c
“The determination shall be based on an in-person evaluation, including review of medical records, and may incorporate standardized assessments for malingering, such as the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) or similar validated tools.”
RSA 622:7-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Bill GannonRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRVice Chair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Michael VoseRChair· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy

Also: Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Aboul KhanR, Rep. Lilli WalshR

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:25:32–1:53:1727m 45slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:56:07–1:56:3023slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:25:37–2:26:0124slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:47:38–2:49:231m 45slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Oct 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:41:52–3:42:3038slocated in the stream transcript==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session; ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session
  • Oct 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:37–58:0055m 23slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3012h
  • Nov 13, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:21–3:291m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3096h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:33:25–1:37:143m 49slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3096h — adopted, roll call 179-159; Amendment # 2025-3096h — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:54:47–1:55:2336slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection — adopted

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 Judiciary; SJ 2
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 5
  3. Jan 30, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0142s, 01/30/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 7A
  4. Jan 30, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0142s, AF, VV; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  5. Jan 30, 2025SenSen. Rochefort Floor Amendment # 2025-0165s, AA, VV; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  6. Jan 30, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0165s, RC 14Y-9N, MA; OT3rdg; 01/30/2025; SJ 4
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 109
  8. Apr 9, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/09/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  9. Apr 23, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  10. Apr 25, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  11. May 9, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/09/2025 11:01 am LOB 202-204
  12. May 12, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  13. Oct 22, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session: 10/22/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  14. Oct 22, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 10/22/2025 01:00 am GP 230
  15. Oct 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-3012h: 10/23/2025 10:00 am GP159
  16. Nov 13, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 11/13/2025 10:00 am GP 159
  17. Nov 13, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3096h (NT) 11/13/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 51 P. 22
  18. Nov 17, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  19. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-3096h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 92
  20. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-3096h: MA RC 179-159 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 94
  21. Feb 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  22. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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