New Hampshire HB 1047: relative to the offense of capital murder.

Bill Text

HB 1047-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2416

 09/08

HOUSE BILL 1047-FN

AN ACT relative to the offense of capital murder.

SPONSORS: Rep. Morton, Hills. 39; Rep. Drye, Sull. 7; Rep. Girard, Sull. 6; Rep. Labrie, Hills. 2; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. Paquette, Hills. 25; Sen. Lang, Dist 2

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

 This bill makes it a capital murder offense to knowingly cause the death of the governor or governor-elect of New Hampshire, a member or member-elect of the executive council, or any member or member-elect of the New Hampshire senate or New Hampshire house of representatives, or any candidate for any such offices after such candidate has been nominated at his or her party's primary, when such killing is motivated by knowledge of the foregoing capacity of the victim.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2416

 09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the offense of capital murder.

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

 1 Capital Murder. Amend RSA 630:1, I(f)-(g) to read as follows:

 (f) Another before, after, while engaged in the commission of, or while attempting to commit an offense punishable under RSA 318-B:26, I(a) or (b); [or]

 (g) Another, who is licensed or privileged to be within an occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied section thereof, before, after, or while in the commission of, or while attempting to commit, burglary as defined in RSA 635:1; or

 (h) The governor or governor-elect of New Hampshire, a member or member-elect of the executive council, or any member or member-elect of the New Hampshire senate or New Hampshire house of representatives, or any candidate for any such offices after such candidate has been nominated at his or her party's primary, when such killing is motivated by knowledge of the foregoing capacity of the victim.

 2 First Degree Murder. Amend RSA 630:1-a, I(b)(4) to read as follows: 

 (4) The president or president-elect or vice-president or vice-president-elect of the United States, the governor or governor-elect of [New Hampshire or] any state other than New Hampshire, or any member or member-elect of the congress of the United States, or any candidate for such office after such candidate has been nominated at his or her party's primary, when such killing is motivated by knowledge of the foregoing capacity of the victim.

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

 LBA

 26-2416

 10/17/25

HB 1047-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the offense of capital murder.

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