This page is an unofficial mirror and is not legal advice. Verify the document against the official source before relying on it.

HB257: (New Title) relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

Bill details

Version history, amendments, and roll-call votes were not present in the imported local bill data.

Official links

HB 257-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

8Jan2026... 1038h

2025 SESSION

25-0317

09/05

HOUSE BILL 257-FN

AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

SPONSORS: Rep. Rollins, Sull. 3; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. Levesque, Straf. 4; Rep. B. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Sen. Ward, Dist 8

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill amends the mental state applicable to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Jan2026... 1038h 25-0317

09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

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

1 Endangering Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. Amend RSA 639:3, I to read as follows:

I. A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent if he [knowingly] recklessly endangers the welfare of a child under 18 years of age or of an incompetent person by [purposely] recklessly violating a duty of care, protection or support he owes to such child or incompetent, or by inducing such child or incompetent to engage in conduct that endangers his health or safety.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

LBA

25-0317

1/14/26

HB 257-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2025-1038h)

AN ACT relative to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.

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

Extraction diagnostics

Related law links

RSA references from bill data

  • 639:3 · amend · effective 2026-01-01

    ive to the crime of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Endangering Welfare of a Child or Incompetent. Amend RSA 639:3, I to read as follows: I. A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent if he [knowingly] recklessly endangers the welfare of a child under 18 years of age or of an incompetent person

RSAs mentioned by this document