HB 135

HB 135 prohibits no-knock warrants.

Supporters

Terry Roy (R-Deerfield) wrote the committee report recommending that the bill ought to pass with amendment.

The amendment limited no-knock search warrants to cases where there was a demonstratable need to do so for the preservation of human life. The amendment also added additional requirements regarding clearance prior to the no-knock warrant and reporting after the no-knock warrant.

He also said the bill is modelled after federal guidelines.

Roy shared on the floor why this amendment is needed to protect police officers and victims in warrant situations and shared that police departments told the committee that these no-knock warrants are rare but sometimes are needed. He said that now the only reason to get a no-knock warrant is to preserve life under this amendment, and it cannot be obtained to save evidence, unless that evidence protects human life.

Roy added that gangs get guns through implicit means.

Opponents

Jonah Wheeler (D-Peterborough) was the only opposing vote on the committee, saying that the practice of no-knock warrants has damaged the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the community.

On the floor, he spoke against an amendment, sharing a personal experience from when he was six years old when police performed a no-knock warrant on his mother.

J.R. Hoell (R-Dunbarton) said that many officers have died in no-knock warrants and there are often situations where gangs may not have machine guns, asking that the amendment be narrowed before it is adopted.

Votes

The amendment passed 299-84. The motion recommending that the bill ought to pass as amended was adopted 374-9.