HB1239 (2026) Detail

Relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.


HB 1239-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-3095

09/06

 

HOUSE BILL 1239-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Devoid, Merr. 1; Rep. Lascelles, Hills. 14; Rep. Paquette, Hills. 25; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23

 

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill prohibits certain registered offenders who are required to register due to a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age from appearing within 1,000 feet of certain locations under circumstances that would warrant alarm.

 

This bill is a request of the department of safety.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-3095

09/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Paragraph; Loitering or Prowling.  Amend RSA 644:6 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:  

I-a.  A person commits a violation if he or she, while being required to register as a tier II or tier III offender under RSA 651-B as a result of a sexual offense against a child under 13 years of age, knowingly appears within 1,000 feet of any of the following places under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons in the vicinity:  

(a)  Any childcare facility.

(b)  Any church.

(c)  Any school.

(d)  Any area where a reasonable person would know that minor children congregate.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 

LBA

26-3095

10/29/25

 

HB 1239-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the offense of loitering or prowling.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:  

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund

None

Expenditures*

Indeterminable

Funding Source

General Fund

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill            *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

Indeterminable

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association

 

Links


Action Dates

Bill Text Revisions

HB1239 Revision: 49636 Date: Dec. 1, 2025, 9:55 a.m.

Docket


Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety