HB 1203 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
Returning firearms after acquittal
AI-generatedrelative to the return of firearms following a not guilty verdict or dismissal of the proceeding.
Requires courts to immediately order the return of seized firearms or ammunition, without a background check, when a criminal case ends in a not-guilty verdict or is discontinued, and requires law enforcement to return the property within 24 hours.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires that in criminal prosecutions that result in not guilty verdicts or that are discontinued, the court shall immediately order for the return of any seized firearms or ammunition and that the law enforcement agency shall return the property within 24 hours.
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
“A court shall not be required to request, conduct, or receive the results of a background check prior to returning firearm property to its owner.”
“Should any New Hampshire court require, at its discretion, that a background check be conducted on an individual prior to the return of his or her firearm property, the following conditions shall apply:”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
Also: Rep. David LoveR, Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR, Rep. Henry GiassonR, Rep. James ThibaultR
Public testimony
97 signed in online · 84 wrote testimony
4% support96% oppose0% neutral
ForFirearms and rights should be restored promptly
AgainstBill creates bureaucratic hurdles to firearm return
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Thank you Chairman and Committee members, My name is Rep David Love, I am a co sponsor of this legislation.…”
“I strongly oppose HB 1203-FN. This bill undermines judicial discretion by limiting a judge’s ability to require a background check before firearms are returned following a dismissal or not-guilty verdict.…”
“I OPPOSE this bill as written. Law abiding citizens should not be required to petition a judge for the return of their legally owned property. It should be required that the property is automatically returned in a timely manner.”
“I am writing to urge you to OPPOSE HB 1203, which creates dangerous restrictions on the return of firearms following not guilty verdicts or case dismissals.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate13–0Overall100% yea
- Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety32:02–33:121m 10slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:57–3:231m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Feb 19, 2026Floor 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 10
- Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 10:30 am GP 159
- Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 10:00 am GP 159
- Feb 4, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 7 P. 6
- Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.