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SB 460 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Tier III offenders barred from child zones

AI-generated

(New Title) prohibiting tier III criminal offenders from being present in designated child safety zones absent a legitimate purpose.

Makes it a class B felony for tier III registered offenders to be present in designated child safety zones, allowing an affirmative defense for a legitimate purpose.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill makes it a class B felony for tier III registered offenders to be present in certain designated child safety zones, and makes it an affirmative defense that the offender was there for a legitimate purpose.

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

“No person who is required to register as a tier III offender under this chapter, as a result of an offense where the victim was under 18 years of age, shall knowingly go in, on, or within 500 feet of a child safety zone.”
RSA 651-B:13
“Distance shall be measured in a straight line from the outer property boundary of the child safety zone to the person.”
RSA 651-B:13
“Evidence that the person has received written notice of these prohibitions during registration, or that the zone was marked with signage or otherwise open and obvious, shall be prima facie evidence that the person acted knowingly.”
RSA 651-B:13

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Jennifer RhodesRVice Chair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

6 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

33% support67% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill MANUFACTURES criminal violations. There is no telling where a child under 13 yo might be. In general public, it is impossible to not be within 1000 feet of one.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“I am writing in to urge you to oppose SB460. Criminalizing loitering will disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.”
— Trixie Dysart, MANCHESTERopposes
“Criminalizing existing in public space is detrimental to community cohesiveness and trust.”
— Elizabeth Schiavoni, Windhamopposes

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 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1286h (NT)9–4
    Overall
    69% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseRoll callAmendment 2026-1286hAdopted225–128How they voted
    Overall
    64% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    182–1095% yea
    Democrats
    43–11827% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseRoll callLay SB460 on Table (Rep. McFarlane)Failed146–207How they voted
    Overall
    41% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    13–1797% yea
    Democrats
    133–2883% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1286hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Roy)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary5:25–9:003m 35slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:33:52–1:35:001m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety51:58–1:15:4623m 48slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1286h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Altschiller; (In Recess
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:03:16–1:05:192m 3slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1286h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1286h (NT) — adopted, roll call 225-128; Lay SB460 on Table (Rep. McFarlane) — failed, roll call 146-207
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Roy) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, Proulx, A. Murray, S. Smith

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 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 2
  3. Feb 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/05/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 4
  4. Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 5 P. 124
  6. Mar 18, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/18/2026 11:30 am GP 159
  7. Apr 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/03/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  8. Apr 3, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1286h (NT) 04/03/2026 (Vote 9-4; RC)
  9. Apr 8, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1337h (NT)
  10. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1286h (NT): AA RC 225-128 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 28
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseLay SB460 on Table (Rep. McFarlane): MF RC 146-207 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 30
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1286h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 32
  13. Apr 23, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  14. Apr 23, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Altschiller; (In Recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  15. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Roy): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
  16. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, Proulx, A. Murray, S. Smith 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
  17. May 20, 2026SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 05/20/2026, 11:45 am, Room 154, GP
  18. Jun 1, 2026HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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