1 Short Title. This act may be known and cited as the "Protecting College Students Act".

2 Statement of Findings. The general court hereby finds that:

I. The constitution of New Hampshire, part I, article 2-a, guarantees the natural and essential right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.

II. New Hampshire law provides for constitutional carry, recognizing that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction.

3 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 institution of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, law school, medical or dental school, or any institution of higher education in this state supported by public funds.

159:29 Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 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.

II. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no public institution of higher education shall enact rules, policies, or similar prohibitions restricting the possession, carry, or lawful use of firearms on campus by any faculty.

III. Public institutions of higher education shall develop and enact rules, policies, and procedures to implement this section.

159:30 Severability. If any provision of this subdivision or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the subdivision which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subdivision are declared to be severable.

4 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.

5 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.

6 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.

7 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.

8 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.

9 Effective Date.

I. RSA 159:29, II as inserted by section 2 of the bill, shall take effect July 1, 2027.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Short Title. This act may be known and cited as the "Protecting College Students Act".

2 Statement of Findings. The general court hereby finds that:

I. The constitution of New Hampshire, part I, article 2-a, guarantees the natural and essential right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.

II. New Hampshire law provides for constitutional carry, recognizing that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction.

3 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 institution of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, law school, medical or dental school, or any institution of higher education in this state supported by public funds.

159:29 Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 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.

II. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no public institution of higher education shall enact rules, policies, or similar prohibitions restricting the possession, carry, or lawful use of firearms on campus by any faculty.

III. Public institutions of higher education shall develop and enact rules, policies, and procedures to implement this section.

159:30 Severability. If any provision of this subdivision or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the subdivision which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subdivision are declared to be severable.

4 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.

5 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.

6 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.

7 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.

8 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.

9 Effective Date.

I. RSA 159:29, II as inserted by section 2 of the bill, shall take effect July 1, 2027.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.