HB 1108-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 1113h
2026 SESSION
26-2548
09/08
HOUSE BILL 1108-FN
AN ACT relative to the offense of criminal threatening.
SPONSORS: Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. Aures, Merr. 13; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Drew, Hills. 19; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill revises the standard for when a person shall not be deemed to have committed the offense of criminal threatening, when responding to certain threats.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 1113h 26-2548
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the offense of criminal threatening.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Criminal Threatening; Actions in Response to Certain Threats. RSA 631:4, IV is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
IV. A person who, in response to conduct that could reasonably be perceived by a person as likely to result in serious bodily injury, death, theft, unlawful intrusion, or refusal to leave after lawful trespass notice, displays a firearm or other lawful means of self-defense with the intent to deter such conduct, shall not be deemed to have committed a criminal act under this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the open carrying of firearms as otherwise permitted by law.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-2548
03/18/2026
HB 1108-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2026-1113h)
AN ACT relative to the offense of criminal threatening.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
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
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 10, 2026 | 2026-1113h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 11, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 24, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
April 3, 2026: Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
April 1, 2026: Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 13
March 18, 2026: Hearing: 03/24/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 11
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1113h: MA RC 193-144 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Indefinitely Postpone (Rep. Wade): MF DV 146-191 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: FLAM # 2026-1113h (Rep. McFarlane): AA DV 188-149 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Inexpedient to Legislate: MF RC 151-186 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 11, 2026: Remove from Table (Rep. Roy): MA RC 177-158 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 5, 2026: Lay HB1108 on Table (Rep. Rhodes): MA DV 297-23 03/05/2026 HJ 6
March 4, 2026: Removed from Consent (Reps. McFarlane, McGrath, Beaulier, Tom Mannion, Giasson, Berezhny, D. Kelley, D. McGuire, Scully, Popovici-Muller) 03/04/2026 HJ 5
Feb. 24, 2026: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9 P. 5
Feb. 24, 2026: Executive Session: 01/28/2026 03:00 pm GP 159
Jan. 21, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 03:00 pm GP 159
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 6