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HB 1239 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Sex offenders near child safety zones

AI-generated

relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

Prohibits certain registered offenders required to register due to a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age from appearing within 1,000 feet of certain locations under circumstances that would warrant alarm.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits certain registered offenders who are required to register due to a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age from appearing within 1,000 feet of certain locations under circumstances that would warrant alarm. This bill is a request of the department of safety.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Terry RoyRPrimeChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Ricky DevoidR, Rep. Richard LascellesR, Rep. Kathleen PaquetteR

Public testimony

6 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

67% support33% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“So you intend to deprive the Constitutional freedom of religion right to worship in church? The sentence "Any area ... that minor children congregate" would criminalize for not knowing that children are congregating.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“Vague language criminalizes poverty, youth, and marginalized communities; should be opposed.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchesteropposes

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 PassFailed156–178
    Overall
    47% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionInexpedient to LegislateAdopted201–134
    Overall
    60% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:35:33–1:41:466m 13slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — failed, division 156-178; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, division 201-134

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. 12
  2. Jan 29, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2026 02:00 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:00 pm GP 159
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/18/2026 (Vote 7-5; RC) HC 10 P. 32
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MF DV 156-178 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 77
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 201-134 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 77

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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