This bill establishes a commission to study human trafficking within illicit massage businesses (IMBs) in New Hampshire, recognizing the prevalence of trafficking activities across the state and the lack of regulatory oversight for IMBs. The commission will consist of various members, including representatives from the House and Senate, the Attorney General, and other relevant stakeholders. It is tasked with examining prior efforts to combat human trafficking, collaboration to prevent IMBs, best practices for victim support, and potential regulatory measures. The commission is required to submit interim and final reports with findings and legislative recommendations by November 2025 and November 2026, respectively.

In addition to establishing the commission, the bill enhances penalties for prostitution-related offenses. It introduces new legal language that classifies knowingly permitting a location for prostitution as a class B felony, with escalated penalties for violations involving minors or coercion. The bill also amends existing laws to remove certain misdemeanor offenses and clarifies that lack of knowledge regarding a victim's age is not a valid defense in prosecutions. The commission's provisions will be repealed on November 1, 2026, while the rest of the bill takes effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the House: 645:2, 633:12
Version adopted by both bodies: 645:2, 633:12