CHAPTER 254
SB 273-FN - FINAL VERSION
2025 SESSION
25-0314
11/09
SENATE BILL 273-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Sykes, Graf. 14; Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. D. Fox, Ches. 2; Rep. Gorski, Hills. 2
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds stopped or standing vehicles as highway emergencies requiring approaching drivers to give a wide berth.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0314
11/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
254:1 Short Title. This act shall be known as "Sherrill's Law".
254:2 Motorist Duties; Approaching Stopped or Standing Vehicles. Amend RSA 265:37-a, I to read as follows:
I. When in or approaching an incident involving a fire, collision, disaster, utility construction or maintenance, or other emergency resulting in partial or complete blockage of a highway, or a location where a police officer has made a traffic stop, or a stopped or standing vehicle displaying warning signals, including vehicle hazard warning lights, road flares, traffic cones, caution signs, or any nonvehicular warning signs, every driver other than the driver of an emergency response vehicle, shall:
(a) Maintain a reduced speed and if practical give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic, to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency, warning lights, or a stopped or standing vehicle.
(b) Obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic and of all applicable emergency signals and traffic control devices.
(c) Vacate as soon as possible any lane wholly or partially blocked.
[(d) Give a wide berth, without endangering oncoming traffic, to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights.]
254:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 15, 2025
Effective Date: September 13, 2025
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| May 6, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
July 22, 2025: Signed by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0254; Effective 09/13/2025
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
May 22, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 8
May 9, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 05/06/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC)
April 23, 2025: Executive Session: 05/06/2025 01:00 pm LOB 203
April 23, 2025: Public Hearing: 05/06/2025 10:40 am 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. 11, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025, Vote 4-0; SC 11
Feb. 5, 2025: Hearing: 02/11/2025, Room 101, LOB, 01:45 pm; SC 9
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 3