Revision: April 30, 2026, 2:33 p.m.
Senate Judiciary
April 30, 2026
2026-1775s
07/09
Amendment to HB 1793-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT prohibiting public institutions of higher education from enacting rules or policies restricting the possession, carry, storage, or lawful use of non-lethal weapons on campus and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 New Subdivision; Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision:
Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses
159:28 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Non-lethal weapons" means pepper spray, mace, stun guns, tasers, and other similar devices designed to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.
II. "Campus" refers to all land, buildings, facilities, and vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by a public institution of higher education in this state.
III. "Public institutions of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, law school, medical or dental school.
159:29 Prohibition on Restrictions of Non-Lethal Weapons on College Campuses. As allowable by state and federal law, no public institution of higher education shall enact rules, policies, or similar prohibitions restricting the possession, carry, storage, or lawful use of non-lethal weapons on campus.
2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education..
3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, with one member being from the minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, with one member being from the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
4 Duties. The committee shall:
I. Investigate the cost to public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, if campus carry were to pass.
II. Study the feasibility of allowing full-time employees of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, to carry weapons, and any potential costs or safety concerns related to allowing employees of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, to carry weapons.
III. Study existing policies on different types of weapons at all public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, in New Hampshire.
IV. Study policies in other states regarding weapons on campuses of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III.
V. Study policies in other states and solicit, or attempt to solicit, testimony from representatives of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, in those states for feedback as to whether their policies have had any impact on campus safety and costs to their public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III.
VI. Study the safety concerns of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, including safety assessments of campuses of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, and potential changes to such assessments, should campus carry be implemented in future years.
VII. Determine what reasonable restrictions public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, would require should such a policy be implemented.
VIII. Solicit input from the university system of New Hampshire on current policies regarding firearms and other weapons on campuses of public institutions of higher education, as defined in RSA 159:28, III, and the potential impacts of changing such policies.
5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
2026-1775s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits public institutions of higher education from enacting rules or policies restricting the possession, carry, storage, or lawful use of non-lethal weapons on campus and establishes a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.