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HB 381 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Limiting liability for firearm design

AI-generated

(New Title) limiting liability for certain design features of firearms.

Limits liability for firearm manufacturers relating to specific design features of firearms.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · November 3, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill limits liability for firearm manufacturers regarding specific design features.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“In any product liability action involving a firearm, the manufacturer of the firearm shall not be liable in tort under any theory of defective product design, failure to warn, negligence, strict product liability, or any other claim based on the absence or presence of any of the following features:”
RSA 507-D:6
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit liability for a firearm manufacturer in cases where the claimant establishes that the firearm contained an actual manufacturing defect or failed to operate in a manner consistent with the manufacturer’s express warranty or representations.”
RSA 507-D:6
“This section shall not alter or limit any other defense available to firearm manufacturers under RSA 507-D or any other applicable law.”
RSA 507-D:6
“If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.”
RSA 507-D:6

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike BelcherRPrime
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR

Public testimony

112 signed in online · 22 wrote testimony

26% support73% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill resists the federal laws which strip New Hampshire of its state sovereignty. The commerce clause should not impact commerce in legal items (firearms) made and sold only in New Hampshire.…”
— Matthew Tyszka, Newportsupports
“Live Free or Die. That is our motto and anyone who has read our history from the time of the Revolutionary War should knows why. We have a proud tradition of protecting our rights and one of those is supporting firearms manufacturers who support our military.…”
— Jana Mackay, Orangesupports
“This bill would solidify the protection of the the right to bear arms of NH citizens from all outside infringement.…”
— Teresa Brooks, Manchestersupports
“The system is working. Children should not be seduced into marriage before they are old enough to understand what it means.”
— Susan Almy, Lebanonopposes
“Guns manufactured anywhere need to be part of the National Firearms Act. My safety is as important as anyone’s gun. I oppose this bill.”
— Kathleen Malsbenden, Newmarketopposes
“I oppose this exemption and urge you to do the same. The National Firearm Act is intended to protect us from the epidemic of gun violence in our country, and there is no reason for this waiver.…”
— Martha Jane Rich, Enfieldopposes
“The idea is laudatory. There is no guarantees in litigation. I want May 19, 1986 repealed more than most. I am not sure the gamble taken (a very big one) will play out as the bill's author(s) believes it will.…”
— Penny Dean, Concordneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass8–7
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted205–168How they voted
    Overall
    55% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    204–299% yea
    Democrats
    1–1661% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1826s3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateRoll callCommittee amendment 2025-1826sAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1826sAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 8, 2025SenateRoll callSen. Gannon Moved Laid on TableAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety7:07:39–7:08:581m 19slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:32:39–3:40:007m 21slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 205-168
  • Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary51:37–54:042m 27slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:44:02–1:47:403m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1826s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1826s — adopted, roll call 16-8; Committee Amendment # 2025-1826s — adopted, roll call 16-8

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 17
  2. Jan 30, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 01/30/2025 (Vote 8-7; RC) HC 12 P. 16
  5. Feb 11, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 205-168 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 37
  7. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  8. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 16
  9. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm, on proposed amendment #2025-1481s; SC 16
  10. May 8, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1826s, 05/08/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 20
  11. May 8, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1826s, RC 16Y-8N, AA; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  12. May 8, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1826s, RC 16Y-8N, MA; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  13. May 8, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, RC 16Y-8N, MA; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  14. May 8, 2025SenPending Motion OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  15. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.