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HB 1238-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3085
09/08
HOUSE BILL
1238-FN
AN ACT
relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Devoid, Merr. 1; Rep. Lascelles, Hills. 14; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Paquette, Hills. 25; Rep. Rhodes, Ches. 17; Rep. Trottier, Belk. 8; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill amends the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3085
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Disobeying an Officer; Penalties. Amend RSA 265:4, II-III to read as follows:
II. Any person who violates any provision of paragraph I of this section may have his or her license or privilege to drive and any registrations issued in his or her name suspended.
III.
In addition
to the penalty listed in paragraph II:
(a)
Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraphs I (a), (b), (d), (e), or (f) of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
[
III.(a) In addition to the penalties listed in paragraph II,
]
(b)
Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c) shall be guilty of a class
B felony
[
A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $500
].
[
(b) Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c), and is involved in a motor vehicle accident which causes serious bodily injury as defined in RSA 625:11, VI while being pursued, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
]
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph I(c), and is involved in a motor vehicle accident which
injures or
causes the death of
a person
[
another while being pursued
], shall be guilty of a class A felony.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
LBA
26-3085
10/28/25
HB 1238-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT
relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
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