Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 257 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Mental state standard for child endangerment

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

Amends the required mental state applicable to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent person.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill amends the mental state applicable to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Skip RollinsRPrimeVice Chair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Brian SullivanDSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Cassandra LevesqueD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 7, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass11–5
    Overall
    69% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseDivisionRecommit (Rep. Roy)Adopted371–2
    Overall
    99% yea
  • Oct 22, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT)16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 8, 2026HouseDivisionLay HB257 on Table (Rep. McFarlane)Failed117–204
    Overall
    36% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1038hadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1038hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:26:33–1:31:395m 6slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 29, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety34:48–43:208m 32slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:18:17–3:21:213m 4slocated in the stream transcriptRecommit (Rep. Roy) — adopted, division 371-2
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety8:01–9:151m 14slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Oct 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety32:34–42:4010m 6slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT); ==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session; ==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor24:50–25:571m 7slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1038h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 8, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:58:46–7:01:513m 5slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB257 on Table (Rep. McFarlane) — failed, division 117-204
  • Mar 19, 2026Public hearingSenate Children and Family Law13:30–36:4423m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 12
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 11:00 am LOB 301-303
  3. Jan 24, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/24/2025 02:30 pm LOB 202-204
  4. Jan 29, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Jan 29, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/29/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  6. Feb 7, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 02/07/2025 (Vote 11-5; RC) HC 12 P. 15
  7. Feb 11, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  8. Feb 20, 2025HouseRecommit (Rep. Roy): MA DV 371-2 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 34
  9. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  10. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  11. Mar 19, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  12. Oct 22, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Full Committee Work Session: 10/22/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  13. Oct 22, 2025House==RESCHEDULED== Executive Session: 10/22/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
  14. Oct 22, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1038h (NT) 10/22/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  15. Jan 6, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. McFarlane, Drew, Tom Mannion, Giasson, Granger, Popovici-Muller, Mehegan, Polozov, Burnham, Corcoran) 01/06/2026 HJ 1 P. 43
  16. Jan 8, 2026HouseLay HB257 on Table (Rep. McFarlane): MF DV 117-204 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 70
  17. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-1038h (NT): AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 2 P. 70
  18. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1038h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 2 P. 71
  19. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Children and Family Law; SJ 2
  20. Mar 19, 2026SenHearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:40 am; SC 10
  21. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/16/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 14
  22. Apr 16, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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