CHAPTER 124
SB 262-FN - FINAL VERSION
2025 SESSION
25-1138
09/05
SENATE BILL 262-FN
AN ACT relative to the penalty for trafficking in persons under 18 years of age.
SPONSORS: Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Mazur, Hills. 44; Rep. Prudhomme-O'Brien, Rock. 13; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill increases the penalty for certain offenses involving the trafficking of persons under 18 years of age to 18 years to life imprisonment.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-1138
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the penalty for trafficking in persons under 18 years of age.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
124:1 Trafficking in Persons; Penalty. Amend RSA 633:7, II and III to read as follows:
II. A person shall be guilty of a class A felony if such person maintains or makes available an individual under 18 years of age for the purpose of engaging the individual in a commercial sex act or sexually-explicit performance for the benefit of another. A person convicted under this paragraph shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than [7] 18 years and a maximum term of not more than [30 years] life imprisonment. Knowledge of the individual's actual age shall not be required as an element of this offense. Consent of the individual shall not constitute a defense to a charge under this paragraph.
III. It is a class A felony to recruit, entice, harbor, transport, provide, obtain, or otherwise make available a person, knowing or believing it likely that the person will be subjected to trafficking as defined in paragraph I or II. Notwithstanding RSA 651:2, a person convicted of an offense under this paragraph involving a victim under the age of 18 shall be subject to a minimum term of not less than [7] 18 years and a maximum term of not more than [30 years] life imprisonment, if the offender knew or believed it likely that the victim would be involved in a commercial sex act or sexually-explicit performance.
124:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Approved: June 24, 2025
Effective Date: January 01, 2026
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 6, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 11, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| April 23, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| April 25, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| April 23, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
June 24, 2025: Signed by the Governor on 06/24/2025; Chapter 0124; Effective 01/01/2026
June 16, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17
June 16, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
June 16, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17
June 16, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
May 8, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA RC 290-71 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 25
April 30, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
April 30, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/23/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 23 P. 12
April 14, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/25/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
April 14, 2025: Executive Session: 04/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
April 1, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/11/2025 12:00 pm LOB 202-204
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 11 P. 113
March 6, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
Feb. 21, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
Feb. 12, 2025: Hearing: 02/20/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 10
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3