HB 1413 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Death penalty for capital murder

reinstituting the death penalty in cases of capital murder.

Reinstates the death penalty as a possible sentence for capital murder, replacing the current mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without parole.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026

✓Introduced
✕House
Senate
Governor
Law

Analysis

This bill reinstitutes the death penalty as a potential sentence for the offense of capital murder.

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 person convicted of a capital murder [shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility for parole] may be punished by death.”

Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

900 signed in online · 305 wrote testimony

1% support99% oppose0% neutral

ForDeath penalty appropriate for the worst murders

AgainstKilling is morally or religiously wrong

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am writing to speak against reinstating the death penalty in New Hampshire – not just from an economic standpoint (which study after study proves), but from a moral standpoint (which story after story proves). I want to share one such story.…”

— John Sawyer, Manchester · The Presbyterian Church (USA)opposes

“My name is Chris Potter, an Episcopal deacon and President of the NH Council of Churches.…”

— The Rev. Chris Potter, Manchesteropposes

“We oppose the death penalty for the following reasons: It is often applied to innocent people in cases of inadequate counsel, legal errors and wrongful convictions. It does NOT deter murders, so it does not make us safer. It is applied in racially unequal ways.…”

— B Widger, Manchopposes

“The only way I can support the death penalty is if the Governor or the presiding judge does the killing, 2 weeks after the trial completion. In front of the jury. On the lawn, in public, in broad daylight, on TV. No masked hangmen or 4am injections.…”

— tom luther, claremontneutral

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

Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate13–0
Overall
100% yea
Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Public Hearing
Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:04:35–1:19:4315m 8slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing
Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:02:47–1:03:551m 8slocated 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. 19
Jan 14, 2026House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 03:00 pm GP 159
Jan 23, 2026House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 01/23/2026 11:00 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)
Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Introducedversion

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