SB 15-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0229
09/06
SENATE BILL15-FN
AN ACTrelative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.
SPONSORS:Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Khan, Rock. 30; Rep. Vose, Rock. 5; Rep. L. Walsh, Rock. 15; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36
COMMITTEE:Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill sets a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0229
09/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACTrelative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Controlled Drug Act; Penalties. Amend RSA 318-B:26, IX to read as follows:
IX. Any person who manufactures, sells, or dispenses methamphetamine, lysergic acid, diethylamide phencyclidine (PCP) or any other controlled drug classified in schedules I or II, or any controlled drug analog thereof, in violation of RSA 318-B:2, I or I-a, is strictly liable for a death which results from the injection, inhalation or ingestion of that substance, and [may] shall be sentenced to not less than 10 years of imprisonment up to [for] life imprisonment [or for such term as the court may order]. For purposes of this section, the person's act of manufacturing, dispensing, or selling a substance is the cause of a death when:
(a) The injection, inhalation or ingestion of the substance is an antecedent but for which the death would not have occurred; and
(b) The death was not:
(1) Too remote in its occurrence as to have just bearing on the person's liability; or
(2) Too dependent upon conduct of another person which was unrelated to the injection, inhalation or ingestion of the substance or its effect, as to have a just bearing on the person's liability. It shall not be a defense to a prosecution under this section that the decedent contributed to his own death by his purposeful, knowing, reckless or negligent injection, inhalation or ingestion of the substance or by his consenting to the administration of the substance by another. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude or limit any prosecution for homicide. A conviction arising under this section shall not merge with a conviction of one as a drug enterprise leader or for any other offense defined in this chapter.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
LBA
25-0229
12/3/24
SB 15-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACTrelative to establishing a mandatory minimum sentence for the crime of distribution of a controlled drug with death resulting.
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