NH HB1730

Expands aggravated felonious sexual assault to include victims under age 16 (currently under 13) and makes sexual contact with minors under 16 eligible for felony charges under specified circumstances including age differences of 5+ years or positions of authority

Authorizes the death penalty for persons convicted of aggravated felonious sexual assault, following the same capital case procedures currently used for capital murder under RSA 630:5

Requires bifurcated trials with separate sentencing hearings, appointment of capital-qualified counsel, consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors, and automatic New Hampshire Supreme Court review for all death sentences

Estimated state expenditures of $0 to $10,000,000 annually from the General Fund, with individual capital prosecutions projected to cost over $2,500,000 each based on prior capital murder cases

Takes effect January 1, 2027