# New Hampshire SB649: increasing fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle.

New Hampshire SB649, increasing fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle., is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Donovan Fenton (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-29 (Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 114; Effective 01/01/2027) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB649-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Hampshire SB649
- State: New Hampshire
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: increasing fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving a motor vehicle.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-25
- Last action: 2026-05-29, Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 114; Effective 01/01/2027
- Sponsor: Donovan Fenton (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Higher fines for drivers using hand-held devices: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, New Hampshire raises fines for using a hand-held mobile electronic device while driving. The first-offense fine is $250, or $500 if the violation contributes to a crash. A second offense within 24 months of the first costs $500, or $750 if it contributes to a crash. A thi…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donovan Fenton (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bill M. Gannon (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Denise Ricciardi (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karel A. Crawford (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Mark McConkey (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Nancy A Murphy (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Regina Birdsell (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Suzanne M. Prentiss (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ted Gorski (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Terry W Roy (Republican), House

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-29: Signed by the Governor on 05/28/2026; Chapter 114; Effective 01/01/2027 (Senate)
- 2026-05-18: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147 (House)
- 2026-05-18: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13 (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Ought to Pass: MA DV 232-123 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 21 (House)
- 2026-04-09: Lay SB649 on Table (Rep. Scherr): MF DV 168-186 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 20 (House)
- 2026-04-03: Removed from Consent (Reps. Alexander Jr., Tom Mannion, McFarlane, Barton, D. Kelley, DeVito, Reinfurt, Granger, Thibault, Giasson) 04/03/2026 HJ 10 P. 11 (House)
- 2026-04-01: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/20/2026 (Vote 11-1; CC) (House)
- 2026-03-20: Executive Session: 03/20/2026 02:00 pm GP 159 (House)
- 2026-03-10: Public Hearing: 03/18/2026 03:00 pm GP 159 (House)
- 2026-02-26: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 5 P. 127 (House)
- 2026-01-29: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2 (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 3 (Senate)
- 2025-12-09: Hearing: 01/13/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 46 (Senate)
- 2025-11-25: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1 (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2026-05-18: [HTML](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1276&inflession=2025)
- Introduced, 2025-11-25: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=22329)
- CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=33423)
- Version adopted by both bodies: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=30680)

## Related bills

- HB2026: (New Title) relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan; relative to toll rate adjustments and periodic toll reviews for the New Hampshire tu… (became law)
- HB1002: repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption. (failed)
- SB101: (Second New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. (failed)
- CACR22: relating to the compensation of the legislature. Providing that the present compensation per elected term for legislators is hereby abolished. (failed)
- HB1834: relative to the education freedom account enrollment cap. (failed)
- HB1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and m… (failed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1276&inflession=2025)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=22329)
- [CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=33423)
- [Version adopted by both bodies (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=30680)

## Related
- [HB2026: (New Title) relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan; rela…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB2026-2025-2026)
- [HB1002: repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1002-2025-2026)
- [SB101: (Second New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB101-2025-2026)
- [CACR22: relating to the compensation of the legislature. Providing that the present com…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-CACR22-2025-2026)
- [HB1834: relative to the education freedom account enrollment cap.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1834-2025-2026)
- [HB1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1786-2025-2026)
- [New Hampshire bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-hampshire/bills)
- [New Hampshire state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-hampshire)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB649-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-17).