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SB 620 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

DWI refusal penalties and aggravated DWI

AI-generated

relative to refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration and penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Modifies periods of license suspension stemming from refusal to submit to alcohol concentration testing and adjusts the penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · April 21, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill modifies periods of suspension under different circumstances stemming from a refusal of consent to testing to determine alcohol concentration. This bill further modifies the penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“If a person under arrest for any violation or misdemeanor under RSA 265 or RSA 215-A refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to submit to physical tests or to a test of blood, urine, or breath designated by the law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to as provided in RSA 265-A:4, none shall be given, but:”
Section 26:1
“In conjunction with a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to an offense resulting in a conviction under RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3, the court may suspend up to 180 days of the license suspension imposed pursuant to this section.”
Section 26:2
“Any person who is convicted of any aggravated DWI offense under RSA 265-A:3, except as provided in subparagraph (c) or (d), shall be:”
Section 26:3
“Sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 17 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, all of which may be suspended.”
Section 26:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Bill GannonRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Mark PearsonR, Rep. Lilli WalshR

Public testimony

18 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

61% support39% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill is an ingredient in a recipe for a draconian police state built on the exploitation of victims. The current law is just fine the way it is at 6 months. Why not make it 2 years instead? Or 5 or the rest of the suspect's life?…”
— Julie Smith, Epsomopposes
“This strips away any means for offender to maintain gainful employment by stripping away transportation. It CREATES dependency by further beating down an individuals effort to redeem himself, making him indigent.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:45:30–1:49:013m 31slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0130s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0130s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0130s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety5:08:02–5:23:2815m 26slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:43:07–1:46:523m 45slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1229h — adopted, roll call 259-94; Amendment # 2026-1229h — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)
  • Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floor19:31–21:271m 56slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled 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, 01:30 pm; SC 48
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0130s, 01/29/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0130s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0130s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 5 P. 127
  7. Mar 18, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/18/2026 02:00 pm GP 159
  8. Mar 20, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/20/2026 02:00 pm GP 159
  9. Mar 20, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1229h 03/20/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC)
  10. Apr 8, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. C. McGuire, Granger, Giasson, Beaulier, Tom Mannion, D. Kelley, J. Smith, Sirois, Mehegan, Drew) 04/08/2026 HJ 10 P. 11
  11. Apr 9, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1229h: AA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 18
  12. Apr 9, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1229h: MA RC 259-94 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 18
  13. Apr 16, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
  14. Apr 9, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 28
  15. Apr 16, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 04/16/2026); SJ 9
  16. Apr 20, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 04/20/2026; Chapter 26; Effective 01/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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