HB 698-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0561
11/09
HOUSE BILL698-FN
AN ACTcriminalizing the act of a person claiming to be a member of law enforcement when the person is not in uniform and cannot produce identification proving the claim.
SPONSORS:Rep. Corcoran, Hills. 28; Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1
COMMITTEE:Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates a felony-level offense for claiming to be law enforcement when not in uniform and being unable to produce identification to prove the claim.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0561
11/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACTcriminalizing the act of a person claiming to be a member of law enforcement when the person is not in uniform and cannot produce identification proving the claim.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; False Claim of Authority. Amend RSA 104 by inserting after section 104:28-a the following new section:
104:28-b Unsupported Claim of Authority.
Any person who knowingly claims or holds themselves out to be a law enforcement officer of any state or federal law enforcement agency with the intent to exercise power vested in such officer, while not wearing their official uniform and not providing official proof of membership in that agency upon demand, shall be guilty of a class B felony. This section shall not apply to law enforcement officers engaged in legitimate pre-approved undercover activity.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
LBA
25-0561
1/3/25
HB 698-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACTcriminalizing the act of a person claiming to be a member of law enforcement when the person is not in uniform and cannot produce identification proving the claim.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated State Impact
FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
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 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
County Expenditures Indeterminable
Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Expenditures Indeterminable
Estimated State Impact
FY 2025
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
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 2025
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
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