HB1185 Relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
Relative to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child or incompetent.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Bill may increase costs to state and county correctional and judicial systems with indeterminable fiscal impact, though no direct taxpayer appropriations are authorized.
Your Community
Strengthens legal protections for vulnerable children and incompetent persons by clarifying the offense and establishing graduated penalties for more serious harm.
Your Freedom
Bill clarifies criminal statutes without expanding law enforcement authority or restricting rights; enforcement depends on existing duty-of-care principles.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 02/19/2026 House Journal 5 P. 3
Sponsor
Jay Markell (R)
The Short Version
This bill redefines the crime of child endangerment and incompetent endangerment, increasing penalties from their current levels to Class A misdemeanor for negligent endangerment, Class B felony for knowing endangerment, and Class A felony if negligent endangerment results in serious injury or death. The fiscal impact on state and local budgets is indeterminable but could increase prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Children under 18 years of age
- ▲ Legally incompetent persons
- ▲ Caregivers acting responsibly toward children and incompetent persons
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Individuals charged with child or incompetent endangerment who face increased criminal penalties
- ▼ State and county correctional and judicial systems bearing indeterminable operational costs
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.