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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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