New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 6 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 1308 — relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.

Last action — Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 163; eff.01/01/2027

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on June 24, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

This bill increases the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.

The bill raises the penalties associated with illegally passing a school bus that is stopped to pick up or drop off children. This change is aimed at enhancing safety for students during school bus operations.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families may feel increased safety for their children getting on and off the school bus.

Summary

relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

34 added · 63 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 1308 makes it clear that if a vehicle fails to stop for a school bus, testimony from the bus driver can serve as sufficient evidence of the violation. Additionally, the fines for first-time and repeat offenders have been increased; first-time offenders will now face a fine of $300 and a 7-day license suspension, while repeat violators will incur a fine of at least $750 and face a longer license revocation. These changes aim to strengthen penalties for drivers who don't stop for school buses, which is important for the safety of children.

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HB 1308-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 5Mar2026...
CHAPTER 163 HB 1308-FN - FINAL VERSION 5Mar2026...
HB 1308-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 5Mar2026...
CHAPTER 163 HB 1308-FN - FINAL VERSION 5Mar2026...
1 Overtaking and Passing School Bus.
163:1 Overtaking and Passing School Bus.
In addition, the director may suspend the person's license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 30 days for a second or subsequent offenIn.] addition, the director shall suspend the person’s license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 7 days for the first offense.
In addition, the director may suspend the person's license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 30 days for a second or subsequent offense].
In addition, the director shall suspend the person’s license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 7 days for the first offense.
Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a second or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than $750.
Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a second or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $750.
Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a third or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than $750.
Except as provided in paragraph IV, a person who violates the provisions of paragraph I, a third or subsequent time shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $750.
At the end of the minimum revocation period the person may petition the court for eligibility to reapply for a driver's license only after completing a driver safety course.
At the end of the minimum revocation period, the person may petition the court for eligibility to reapply for a driver's license only after completing a driver safety course.
2 Effective Date.
163:2 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2882 04/29/2026 HB 1308-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1513s) AN ACT relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
June 19, 2026 Effective Date:
Estimated State Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 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 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 County Expenditures Indeterminable Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures Indeterminable   METHODOLOGY:
January 01, 2027
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
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Action History

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 163; eff.01/01/2027

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  4. House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1513s (Rep. Rhodes): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12

  5. Committee Amendment # 2026-1513s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

  6. Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

  7. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1513s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15

  8. Hearing: 03/19/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 10

  9. Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6

  10. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0523h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6

  11. Amendment # 2026-0523: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 6

  12. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0523h 02/13/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9

  13. Executive Session: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159

  14. Public Hearing: 01/30/2026 11:00 am GP 159

  15. Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 14

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 407 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (407)

407 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 1308 do?
relative to increasing the penalty for passing a stopped school bus.
Who sponsors HB 1308?
HB 1308 is sponsored by Matt R Sabourin dit Choinière, Lisa Mazur (Republican), Melissa Litchfield (Republican), Erica Layon (Republican), Henry Giasson (Republican), Sherri Reinfurt (Republican), Jay Markell (Republican), and Seth Miller (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 1308?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 01, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1308?
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