CHAPTER 163
HB 1308-FN - FINAL VERSION
5Mar2026... 0523h
04/23/2026 1513s
2026 SESSION
26-2882
06/09
HOUSE BILL 1308-FN
AN ACT relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.
SPONSORS: Rep. Giasson, Hills. 29; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Markell, Rock. 18; Rep. Mazur, Hills. 44; Rep. Miller, Straf. 21; Rep. Reinfurt, Hills. 29; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill increases penalties for unlawfully passing a stopped school bus, authorizes bus camera footage as identification evidence, and mandates license suspension for first and repeat offenses.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
5Mar2026... 0523h
04/23/2026 1513s 26-2882
06/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
163:1 Overtaking and Passing School Bus. Amend RSA 265:54, I-a and I-b to read as follows:
I-a. Testimony under oath from the school bus driver or other witness that a vehicle failed to stop and remain stopped as required by paragraph I shall be sufficient evidence to prove that the owner of the vehicle was driving and has violated the provisions of paragraph I, unless such evidence is rebutted or contradicted. The camera footage from the bus may be used as evidence to identify the vehicle owner or operator and shall be made available by subpoena. The owner of a vehicle cited for a school bus law violation shall also have access to the recording or to a copy of the recording, if requested.
I-b. Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I shall be guilty of a [violation] class B misdemeanor and shall be fined [$150] $300 plus penalty assessment for a first offense[, and shall be fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 for a subsequent offense. In addition, the director may suspend the person's license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 30 days for a second or subsequent offense]. In addition, the director shall suspend the person’s license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 7 days for the first offense.
I-c. Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a second or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $750. Unless the court determines that exceptional circumstances exist, the person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for a period of not less than 30 days.
I-d. Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a third or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $750. The person shall be sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 15 consecutive days in the county correctional facility. The person's driver's license or privilege to drive shall be revoked indefinitely and shall not be restored for at least one year. At the end of the minimum revocation period, the person may petition the court for eligibility to reapply for a driver's license only after completing a driver safety course.
163:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: June 19, 2026
Effective Date: January 01, 2027
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 24, 2026 | 2026-0523h |
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-1041h |
| April 14, 2026 | 2026-1513s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 30, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 30, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 13, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 17, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 19, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
June 24, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 163; eff.01/01/2027
June 10, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 10, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
May 7, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1513s (Rep. Rhodes): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 4
April 17, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
April 17, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1513s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
April 15, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
March 12, 2026: Hearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 10
March 10, 2026: Hearing: 03/17/2026, Room 100, SH, 02:15 pm; SC 10
March 6, 2026: Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6
March 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0523h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6
March 5, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0523: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6
Feb. 24, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0523h 02/13/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9
Feb. 24, 2026: Executive Session: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159
Jan. 21, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 14