This bill restricts trial courts in criminal matters from imposing sentences that exceed the length of incarceration agreed upon in a plea bargain by more than 10 percent. It applies to cases where the defendant has accepted the most recent plea bargain that includes incarceration. The bill also specifies that federal court judges must adhere to this law in cases where the federal government has concurrent jurisdiction with New Hampshire.

The fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable, according to the Judicial Branch. It could potentially lead to more rejected pleas and increased court time spent on criminal cases. Additionally, the validity and constitutionality of the legal change could be litigated, which is uncertain.