New Hampshire HB 1793: prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of certain weapons on campus and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.

Bill Text

HB 1793-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

05/14/2026 1882s

2026 SESSION

 26-3149

 07/06

HOUSE BILL 1793-FN

AN ACT prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of certain weapons on campus and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.

SPONSORS: Rep. Farrington, Straf. 8; Rep. DeVito, Rock. 8; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. McDonnell, Rock. 25; Rep. McFarlane, Graf. 18; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Prohibits public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of non-lethal weapons on campus or firearms on campus by faculty and requires such institutions to enact rules, policies, and procedures regarding the prohibition.

 II. Establishes a committee to study campus carry and the possession, carrying, and storage of firearms on college campuses.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/14/2026 1882s 26-3149

 07/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of certain weapons on campus and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.

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

 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 par