NH House Testimony

SB267

Senate · 2025 sessionDemocraticSigned into law

Fine for patronizing prostitution

AI

Establishes a mandatory $500 fine for patronizing prostitution, directed to the human trafficking collaborative task force, and raises the penalty for paying or offering to pay for sexual contact from a misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor.

relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron.

Crimes, Crim.Proc. & Corr.

Status

Signed into law · July 29, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

20 submissions
Support 11Oppose 8Neutral 1
Olivia PowellSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Greetings Members of the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, My name is Olivia Powell, and I am a former NH resident. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron. As the sibling of a sex trade survivor, I do not know the full extent of what my oldest sibling has gone through but have witnessed the aftermath of this first hand. My siblings and I have witnessed zhir struggle with complex PTSD, substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, and chronic illness over the last several years. Prostitution is not victimless, and it took several years for our sibling to find the right supports. In particular, supports specific to survivors were not available or well-known in Nashua. I'm proud of the person my sibling has become, but no one deserves to go through this type of pain. Please hold patrons accountable and vote in favor of SB267.

Wilson Powell, JrSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Greetings Members of the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, My name is Wilson Powell Jr, and I have been a resident of Nashua, NH for over 40 years. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron. As the parent of a sex trade survivor, I do not know the full extent of what my child has gone through but have witnessed the aftermath of the sex trade first hand. My spouse and I have watched my eldest struggle with complex PTSD, substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, and chronic illness over the last several years. Prostitution is not victimless, and it took several years for my eldest to find the right supports. In particular, supports specific to survivors were not available or well-known in Nashua. I'm proud of the person my daughter has become, but no one deserves to go through this type of pain. Please hold patrons accountable and vote in favor of SB267.

Sonia PowellSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Greetings Members of the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, My name is Sonia Powell, and I have been a resident of Nashua, NH for over 40 years. I am writing in support of SB 267 relative to the penalty for engaging in prostitution as a patron. As the parent of a sex trade survivor, I do not know the full extent of what my child has gone through but have witnessed the aftermath of the sex trade first hand. My spouse and I have watched my eldest struggle with complex PTSD, substance use disorder, anxiety, depression, and chronic illness over the last several years. Prostitution is not victimless, and it took several years for my eldest to find the right supports. In particular, supports specific to survivors were not available or well-known in Nashua. I'm proud of the person my daughter has become, but no one deserves to go through this type of pain. Please hold patrons accountable and vote in favor of SB267.

Roy SchweikerNeutralConcord, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Perhaps the legislature should also determine if the drug abuse problem is caused not by sellers but by buyers, and try to eliminate it with hefty penalties on purchasers.

Bill AllemanOpposeWeare, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Alexandria PowellSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Isabella PeracchiSupportStratham, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Roy SimsOpposeNewport, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Julie SimsOpposeNewport, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Dona Lemoine-AciernoSupportWorcester, MAfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Sarah McCarthySupportManchester, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Michael ShivelySupportWakefield, MAfor New Englanders Against Sexual ExploitationApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Daniel RichardsonOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Rep. Nancy MurphySupportMerrimack, NHfor Hillsborough 12/ MerrimackApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

James GardnerOpposeKeene, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Julie SmithOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Timothy FinneyOpposeBridgewater, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Janet LucasSupportCampton, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Curtis HowlandOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Dylan PalmerSupportWolfeboro, NHfor MyselfApr 11, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.