CHAPTER 251
SB 266-FN - FINAL VERSION
2025 SESSION
25-1115
11/05
SENATE BILL 266-FN
AN ACT relative to safety and accountability of drivers under 18 years of age.
SPONSORS: Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill further specifies requirements for reinstatement of a youth operator's license.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-1115
11/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to safety and accountability of drivers under 18 years of age.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
251:1 Youth Operator License; Suspension or Revocation. Amend RSA 263:14, III(b) to read as follows:
(b) The periods of suspension or revocation set forth in subparagraph III(a) of this section shall be as follows:
(1) For a first offense, a minimum of 20 days, but not more than 40 days.
(2) For a second offense, a minimum of 45 days, but not more than 90 days.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, a minimum of 90 days, but not more than 180 days. A condition of license reinstatement for a person convicted of a third or subsequent offense is the successful completion of an approved in-person driver program in accordance with Saf-C 212.08, regardless of the speeds traveled for each offense.
251:2 License Reissuance. Amend RSA 263:14, V to read as follows:
V. In addition to the other requirements of this section, the holder of a youth operator's license who is convicted of an offense under RSA 265-A, 265:79, or convicted of a violation of RSA 265:60 in excess of 30 miles per hour above the posted speed limit, shall not be eligible for reissuance of a license [prior to the age of 21 unless the person satisfies the director after an administrative hearing that the person will drive in a safe manner if the license is issued] for a minimum of 90 days, consecutive to any court-imposed license suspension, and until the person has completed an approved in-person driver attitude program in accordance with Saf-C 212.08. Should the license holder complete the program during the period of suspension, up to 60 days of the suspension may be stayed until they turn 21, so long as they have no further motor vehicle moving violations. As an additional requirement for reinstatement, the director may require the license holder to attend an additional hearing and demonstrate to the director's satisfaction that they will operate a motor vehicle in a safe and lawful manner. The director may place such restrictions on any license so issued as the director deems in the best interest of public safety.
VI. Any law enforcement agency that makes an arrest or issues a summons for a youth operator violation of RSA 265-A, RSA 265:79, or RSA 265:60 in excess of 30 miles per hour above the posted speed limit shall submit a DSMV 384 request for administrative action to the director within 10 days of the violation.
251:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
Approved: July 15, 2025
Effective Date: January 01, 2026
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 6, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 22, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| May 1, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| May 1, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| May 23, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| May 23, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| May 23, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
July 22, 2025: Signed by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0251; Effective 01/01/2026
July 2, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 17
July 2, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18
June 5, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 11
May 28, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 05/23/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 27 P. 9
May 14, 2025: Executive Session: 05/23/2025 01:00 pm LOB 202-204
May 14, 2025: Public Hearing: 05/23/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
May 8, 2025: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 14
May 8, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 14
May 1, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 05/01/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 23 P. 10
May 1, 2025: Executive Session: 05/01/2025 12:00 pm LOB 203
April 23, 2025: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 05/06/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
April 16, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/22/2025 01:20 pm LOB 203
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Transportation HJ 11 P. 113
March 6, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
Feb. 20, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
Feb. 7, 2025: Hearing: 02/13/2025, Room 100, SH, 02:15 pm; SC 9A
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 3