New Hampshire HB 1108: relative to the offense of criminal threatening.

Bill Text

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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 RSA 631:4, IV is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 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.

 LBA

 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: 

 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