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HB 700 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Restraining orders and gun surrender

AI-generated

relative to orders of protection.

Creates a new civil restraining order chapter and amends stalking protective orders so that, absent a specific request and court finding of necessity, a restrained person is not required to surrender firearms in non-domestic-violence cases, and requires petitioners to acknowledge perjury liability for false statements.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires certain individuals seeking certain orders of protection to be informed and to attest that they understand that material false statements made in the petition would be subject to prosecution for perjury. The bill also allows for individuals seeking certain orders of protection in non-domestic violence situations, to elect not to seek removal of firearms or deadly weapons from the possession of the restrained party.

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

“In any action in the superior court to grant a restraining order against any person, issued under the court's equitable jurisdiction and not according to any other provision of law, the court shall not require the restrained individual to surrender any firearm, ammunition, or deadly weapon unless:”
RSA 539-A:1
“In any action under paragraph I, the court shall require the person seeking the restraining order to be informed and to sign acknowledging his or her understanding that any material false statement made in the petition may be prosecuted for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1.”
RSA 539-A:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Jose CambrilsR, Rep. Julius SotiR

Public testimony

588 signed in online · 127 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForRemoving weapons under protective orders reduces gun deaths

AgainstBill restricts judicial discretion to disarm stalkers

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Why are you going out of your way to make senseless changes to a stalking protection law when there are bigger issues to be taken on. Messing with this law is idiotic.”
— Susan Stevens, Altonsupports
“Gun violence is one of the leading causes of death in America. That problem is only worsening.…”
— Taylor Barry, Nashuasupports
“The Office of the Child Advocate has concerns about HB700 relative to orders of protection.…”
— Lissa Mascio, Concord · NH Office of the Child Advocateopposes
“This is written by people who don't believe stalking happens.…”
— Jennifer Suitter, Merrimackopposes
“Stalkers are incredibly dangerous people and should not be allowed access to weapons that may be used to intimidate or harm their victims in any way, shape, or form.”
— Elizabeth Rizzitano, Hennikeropposes

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
  • Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:09:12–1:10:301m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 23
  2. Feb 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/07/2025 11:30 am LOB 202-204
  3. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 19, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 10
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 15

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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