Committee advances bill to expand felony options for severe child endangerment after debate over vagueness and intent standard

Summary

Law enforcement and child‑advocacy witnesses urged the committee to give prosecutors a felony option for repeated or extreme child‑endangering conduct; critics warned the bill’s language is vague and could criminalize well‑meaning parents. The committee ultimately recommended the bill 'ought to pass.'

The House Children and Family Law Committee advanced Senate Bill 23 after a day of testimony that split law‑enforcement and child‑protection advocates from some parents and executive‑branch officials over how broadly to define endangering the welfare of a child.

Senator Pat Long, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the measure would “expand what constitutes endangering the welfare of a child by adding additional violative conduct,” arguing the change would give prosecutors and judges tools to address the most egregious cases that now may be treated only as misdemeanors.

Manchester Police witnesses and Nashua—identified in testimony as “Nashville” in the transcript—urged passage with graphic examples. Detective‑sergeant Ryan Runyon outlined cases his department had investigated, including an 11‑year‑old who ingested fentanyl and a six‑year‑old left outside for 36 minutes in cold weather; Runyon…

Committee advances bill to expand felony options for severe child endangerment after debate over vagueness and intent standard

Summary

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