This bill establishes a crime and mandatory minimum penalty for transporting into New Hampshire with the intent to distribute fentanyl class drugs. It adds a new paragraph to the Controlled Drug Act, stating that any person who enters the state while possessing any quantity of a fentanyl class drug with the intent to distribute it shall be guilty of a class A felony and sentenced to a minimum of 5 years imprisonment. Additionally, any vehicle or conveyance used to transport the drugs into the state will be subject to forfeiture. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2025.

The fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable. It 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. The bill has been reviewed by the Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 318-B:26