HB 1034 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
Ban on guns at schools
AI-generatedrelative to possession of firearms on school property.
Makes knowingly possessing a firearm on public school property a class A misdemeanor, with exceptions for vehicle drop-off, law enforcement officers, and persons specifically authorized in writing by the school board, and bars schools from hiring armed guards without a criminal background check.AI-generated
Status
Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 27, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill prohibits carrying a firearm on school property. This bill also prohibits the hiring of armed guards in schools absent the satisfaction of a criminal background check.
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
“"School property" means all real property owned or leased by schools, including but not limited to buildings, land, or vehicles.”
“All public schools shall be prohibited from employing persons whose sole purpose is to serve as an armed guard for the school.”
“"School board" means any agent, committee, school board, or board of education entrusted with the hiring of teachers and the management of the prudential affairs of the district.”
“No person shall knowingly possess a firearm on public school property, including buildings, grounds, school buses, and vans.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Patricia CornellDRanking Member· Education Policy
Also: Rep. Loren SeligD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD
Public testimony
538 signed in online · 234 wrote testimony
65% support35% oppose0% neutral
ForFirearms simply do not belong on school property
AgainstBill burdens law-abiding gun owners without improving safety
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“All this bill does is ensure that workers are not paid fairly for their time and will lead to exploitation of workers.”
“Guns are built to kill people. They have no place in a school.”
“These are reasonable protections to keep our children safe. Please support.”
“Granite Staters throughout the state have the right to protect themselves and their families, so this needs to extend to parents who send their children to public schools.”
“I am respectfully requesting that you oppose bill HB1034, for the following reasons: - Banning lawful carry in schools guarantees the absence of immediate armed defense, creating a predictable "soft" target.…”
“Criminals do not obey gun laws. If a person wants to do harm to children or others at school, they'll do it regardless. And having nobody on hand who is armed will do only one thing - create a target-rich environment with no armed person to stop them. I oppose this bill.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate7–6Overall54% yea
Hearings and debates
- Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety55:01–1:03:018mlocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 3
- Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 10:30 am GP 159
- Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 10:30 am GP 159
- Feb 11, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 10 P. 77
- Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.