Revision: Jan. 13, 2026, 2:36 p.m.
HB 194-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
7Jan2026... 3019h
2025 SESSION
25-0172
09/05
HOUSE BILL 194-FN
AN ACT relative to the crime of interference with custody.
SPONSORS: Rep. Post, Hills. 42; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Rep. Love, Rock. 13; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23; Rep. Potucek, Rock. 13; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Perez, Rock. 16; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 29; Rep. DeRoy, Straf. 3; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill modifies the crime of interference with custody to add certain actions with an intent to interfere with lawful custody.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
7Jan2026... 3019h 25-0172
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the crime of interference with custody.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraphs; Interference with Custody. Amend RSA 633:4 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraphs:
V. A person commits an offense under this section if, with the intent to interfere with the lawful custody of a child under 18 years of age, the person knowingly entices or persuades the child to leave the custody of:
(a) The other parent or guardian; or
(b) A person lawfully acting in the capacity of parent or guardian.
VI. (a) A first or second violation of paragraph V shall be a civil violation punishable by a fine of $500 per offense.
(b) A third or subsequent violation of paragraph V shall be a class B felony.
VII. Any person who violates paragraph V by taking or removing the child from the state of New Hampshire, without consent or contrary to a valid court order, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
25-0172
1/13/26
HB 194-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2025-3019h)
AN ACT relative to the crime of interference with custody.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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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 | ||||||
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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