HB1238 Relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
Relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Harmful
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Fiscal note indicates indeterminable but likely increased expenditures for judicial and correctional systems across state and county governments, ultimately funded by taxpayers.
Your Community
Increased penalties may deter fleeing and reduce dangerous pursuits, but the fiscal burden on local courts and jails may strain resources; actual public safety impact is not quantified.
Your Freedom
The bill substantially increases criminal penalties for disobeying police orders, elevating felony charges for conduct previously subject to lesser penalties, which restricts individual freedoms and increases prosecution exposure.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/05/2026 House Journal 6 P. 47
Sponsor
Terry Roy (R)
The Short Version
This bill increases criminal penalties for disobeying a police officer, particularly for fleeing from police. It elevates the penalty for fleeing to a Class B felony in most cases, and to a Class A felony if the pursuit results in injury or death. The bill will likely increase incarceration costs for the state and counties, with uncertain effects on public safety.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Law enforcement agencies (per Department of Safety request, which sponsored the bill)
- ▲ Potentially the public if increased penalties deter high-speed pursuits that endanger others
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Individuals charged with fleeing police, who now face more severe felony penalties
- ▼ State and county correctional and judicial systems, which will bear increased incarceration and prosecution costs
- ▼ Taxpayers funding expanded criminal justice system expenditures
Connected Organizations
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.