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HB 56 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Background checks for private gun sales

AI-generated

requiring a background check and mandatory waiting period during certain firearm transfers.

Requires most private firearm transfers to be processed through a licensed firearms dealer, who must conduct a criminal background check and observe a waiting period before completing the transfer, subject to certain exceptions.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 20, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires firearm transfers to be subject to a criminal background check and a mandatory waiting period, subject to certain exceptions.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“When neither party to a prospective firearms transfer is a licensed firearms dealer, a licensed firearms dealer shall facilitate the transfer between the proposed transferor and proposed transferee as follows:”
RSA 159-G:2
“No firearm shall be transferred to a proposed transferee until the applicable state or federal agency responsible for conducting the background check has determined that the proposed transferee is not a prohibited person and has communicated such results to the licensed firearms dealer.”
RSA 159-G:3
“A seller shall not knowingly deliver a firearm to a purchaser sooner than 72 hours after the initiation of a background check by a licensed firearms dealer.”
RSA 159-G:4
“Any individual or person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor for a first offense, and a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.”
RSA 159-G:5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David MeuseDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Jaci GroteDDemocratic Advisor
  • Rep. Peter PetrignoDRanking Member· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary
  • Rep. Jennifer MandelbaumDClerk· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs

Also: Rep. Alicia GreggD, Rep. Loren SeligD, Rep. Suzanne VailD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

385 signed in online · 103 wrote testimony

78% support22% oppose0% neutral

ForRequiring licensed-dealer sales/background checks closes loopholes

AgainstBackground checks are already federally required

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“My name is Dr. Maria Boylan and I’m a family medicine physician. I am writing today on behalf of the New Hampshire Academy of Family Physicians in strong support of HB56 which will require a background check and mandatory waiting period during certain firearm transfers.…”
— Maria Boylan, New Boston · The New Hampshire Academy of Family Physicianssupports
“Must put lives of children and the public above profits from gun sales”
— Amy Feitelson, Ryesupports
“All firearm sales, trades, or transfers should be processed by a licensed firearms dealer ensuring all firearm transfers have a background check in order to protect the citizens of NH.”
— Anne Grossi, Bedfordsupports
“This bill is ludicrous on its face and makes NH residents less safe. How you ask?…”
— Roy Sargent, Concordopposes
“NH already has a background check and should not restrict citizens right to self defense by having a waiting period. I strongly oppose this bill and any infringements on the second amendment.”
— Peter Columbia, New Hamptonopposes
“No waiting period ever. A background check is relatively fast and nothing else should ever limit our 2nd Amendment rights!”
— Ken Goodall, West Ossipeeopposes

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: Inexpedient to Legislate8–7
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Feb 20, 2025HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted216–154How they voted
    Overall
    58% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    204–0100% yea
    Democrats
    12–1547% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:00:18–1:05:205m 2slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:47:12–1:49:392m 27slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 216-154

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. 4
  2. Jan 30, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  3. Jan 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/30/2025 10:30 am LOB 202-204
  4. Jan 30, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/30/2025 (Vote 8-7; RC) HC 12 P. 14
  5. Feb 10, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Feb 20, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 216-154 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 25

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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