Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 553 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Tougher penalties for eluding police

AI-generated

relative to penalties for attempting to elude pursuit by law enforcement.

Increases penalties for willfully eluding a law enforcement pursuit by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while moving, or abandoning a vehicle during pursuit.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 29, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill increases the penalties for willfully attempting to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion, or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended.”
Section 1
“Any person who violates the provision of subparagraph I(c) by willfully attempting to elude pursuit by a law enforcement officer by increasing speed, extinguishing headlamps while still in motion, or abandoning a vehicle while being pursued shall have such license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended for a period of not less than 6 months.”
Section 1
“In addition, any person who violates the provisions of subparagraphs I(a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Donovan FentonDPrime
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Sharon CarsonRPresident of the Senate
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Ted GorskiRVice Chair· Transportation
  • Rep. Karel CrawfordRClerk· Transportation

Also: Rep. Nancy MurphyD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Abbas Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary8:48–16:237m 35slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Pending Motion Interim Study; Sen. Abbas Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1
  2. Jan 15, 2026SenHearing: 01/15/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 48
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 01/29/2026, Vote 4-0; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenSen. Abbas Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Jan 29, 2026SenPending Motion Interim Study; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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