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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 sets a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

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

Hearings

  • 2025-01-141:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-04-0910:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-04-2311:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-04-2510:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearingcancelled
  • 2025-05-0911:01 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 202-204Public hearing
  • 2025-10-2210:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 230Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-10-221:00 pmHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 230Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-10-2310:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing
  • 2025-11-1310:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing

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.