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HB 1454 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Criminalizing firearm possession after surrender order

AI-generated

relative to the possession of firearms following a court order requiring surrender of firearms and ammunition.

Makes it a criminal offense to possess a firearm in violation of a court order requiring surrender of firearms and ammunition, and designates the offense as qualifying for a rebuttable presumption of dangerousness in bail determinations.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill makes it a criminal offense to possess a firearm in violation of a court order requiring the surrender of firearms, and also makes the offense a qualifying offense triggering the presumption that the defendant is dangerous and may be denied bail, if certain other conditions are met.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jay MarkellRPrime
  • Rep. Debra DeSimoneRChair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary

Public testimony

29 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

31% support69% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I strongly support HB 1454. Court-ordered firearm surrender exists to prevent imminent harm, and it is meaningless without enforcement.…”
— Margaret Cowan, Wilmotsupports
“There was a representation made today b a party who opposed this bill that violations of RSA 173-B restraining orders are not "bailable" i,.e., not eligible for bail. ). Today, the committee was provided with the following documents.…”
— Jay Markell, Atkinsonsupports
“This steps way over the line in presumption of legal "dangerousness" which causes law enforcement to assume clearance to become trigger-happy.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes
“Leave federal law to the federal government. There is no reason for NH to assimilate federal laws nor assist in their enforcement.”
— Kevin Craig, Lancasteropposes
“Testimony Against HB 1454: Harmful Implications of Firearm Surrender Policies I oppose HB 1454, which seeks to criminalize the possession of firearms following a court order requiring their surrender.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-1410:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 21
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 01:00 pm GP 159
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2026 (Vote 11-2; RC) HC 9 P. 33
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseLay HB1454 on Table (Rep. Roy): MA DV 227-119 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 50

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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