HB1248 Relative to the penalties for intoxication or under the influence of drug offenses.
Relative to the penalties for intoxication or under the influence of drug offenses.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
State and local governments face indeterminate but likely increases in prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs with no revenue offset.
Your Community
Expanded DWI penalties may reduce impaired driving incidents but will increase jail/prison populations and associated criminal justice system burdens.
Your Freedom
Individuals with prior DWI-related convictions face substantially enhanced criminal penalties with a lower evidentiary threshold, reducing due process discretion.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted DV 208-131 03/11/2026 House Journal 7 P. 78
Sponsor
Jay Markell (R)
The Short Version
This bill expands the definition of prior DWI convictions to include motor vehicle offenses where a defendant was sentenced to alcohol or drug education/treatment programs, lowering the threshold for enhanced DWI penalties. The practical effect is that more repeat DWI offenders will face harsher penalties, increasing incarceration and criminal justice costs with indeterminate fiscal impact.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Potential reduction in repeat DWI offenders on roadways
- ▲ Public safety advocates concerned with impaired driving recidivism
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Individuals with prior DWI convictions subject to enhanced penalties
- ▼ State and county correctional systems facing increased incarceration costs
- ▼ Local and state budgets absorbing indeterminate judicial and corrections expenditures
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.