Bill Text - HB1240 (2026)

Relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.


Revision: Dec. 1, 2025, 9:56 a.m.

HB 1240-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-3096

09/08

 

HOUSE BILL 1240-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Rep. Devoid, Merr. 1; Rep. Lascelles, Hills. 14; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Paquette, Hills. 25; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23

 

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill makes it a class B felony to violate certain provisions of the criminal threatening statute while using what reasonably appears to the victim to be a deadly weapon.

 

This bill is a request of the county attorneys.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-3096

09/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.

 

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

 

1  Criminal Threatening.  Amend RSA 631:4, II(a)(2) to read as follows:  

(2) Uses a deadly weapon as defined in RSA 625:11, V, or uses what reasonably appeared to the victim to be a deadly? weapon as defined in RSA 625:11, V,? in the violation of the provisions of subparagraph I(a), I(b), I(c), or I(d).

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

 

LBA

26-3096

10/29/25

 

HB 1240-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:  

 

 

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

 

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