HB 1034-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

26-2731

12/09

HOUSE BILL 1034-FN

AN ACT relative to possession of firearms on school property.

SPONSORS: Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits carrying a firearm on school property.  This bill also prohibits the hiring of armed guards in schools absent the satisfaction of a criminal background check.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2731

12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to possession of firearms on school property.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  New Sections; Possession of Firearms on School Property.  Amend RSA 159 by inserting after sections 159:19-a the following new sections:

159:19-b  Possession of a Firearm on School Property.  

I.  For the purposes of this section:

(a)  "School property" means all real property owned or leased by schools, including but not limited to buildings, land, or vehicles.

(b)  "School board" means any agent, committee, school board, or board of education entrusted with the hiring of teachers and the management of the prudential affairs of the district.  Public charter school boards shall also be within this definition.

II.  No person shall knowingly possess a firearm on public school property, including buildings, grounds, school buses, and vans.  Any person who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

III.  This section shall not apply to:

(a)  Any person or persons picking up or dropping off a student, provided the firearm remains in a motor vehicle.

(b)  Any person specifically authorized by name and in writing by the school board to possess a firearm on school property.  Any school board considering granting such authorization shall first hold at least one public hearing, noticed in the usual manner.  At the hearing, the board shall consider whether any persons should be authorized to possess firearms on school property.  Following the public hearing, the school board may decide, in a nonpublic session, to authorize specific persons to possess firearms on school property.  Any specific authorizations adopted shall specify the weapon that has been authorized, the purpose and scope of the authorization, and the time period for which the authorization applies.  Such authorization shall not be subject to RSA 91-A.

(c)  Any law enforcement officer, when on or off duty or serving as a school resource officer.

159:19-c  Prohibition of Hiring Armed Guards.  All public schools shall be prohibited from employing persons whose sole purpose is to serve as an armed guard for the school.  Public schools shall only be permitted to employ an armed guard where the candidate for the position would otherwise be qualified to work with students in a public school, including the satisfaction of a criminal background check.  School resource officers that are assigned to a school district pursuant to a contract agreement with the local police department shall not be considered an armed guard for the purposes of this section.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBA

26-2731

10/6/25

HB 1034-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to possession of firearms on school property.

FISCAL IMPACT:  

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill 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. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association