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HB 1047 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Capital murder for killing officials

AI-generated

relative to the offense of capital murder.

Makes it a capital murder offense to knowingly cause the death of the governor, a member of the executive council, or a member of the legislature, or certain nominated candidates for such offices, when motivated by their official capacity.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill makes it a capital murder offense to knowingly cause the death of the governor or governor-elect of New Hampshire, a member or member-elect of the executive council, or any member or member-elect of the New Hampshire senate or New Hampshire house of representatives, or any candidate for any such offices after such candidate has been nominated at his or her party's primary, when such killing is motivated by knowledge of the foregoing capacity of the victim.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jonathan MortonRPrime
  • Rep. Margaret DryeRClerk· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Dale GirardRVice Chair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Rep. Brian LabrieRClerk· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Dennis MannionRVice Chair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip

Also: Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Kathleen PaquetteR

Public testimony

118 signed in online · 28 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I oppose this bill, because I do not believe in tax payer money being used to support the death penalty no matter how heinous the crime. Surely, life in prison, with no possibility of parole, is sufficient penalty even for a capital offense.”
— Patricia Goodlin, New Londonopposes
“Dear House Criminal Justice Committee, I oppose this bill because I oppose the death penalty. The death penalty in New Hampshire was repealed by a vast consensus not that long ago.”
— Elizabeth Ropp, Manchesteropposes
“This bill is a distraction from the more important work of the House on making HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE TO WORKING FAMILIES! Further, it is immoral for the Granite State to take a person's life.”
— Leonard Cadwallader, Hanoveropposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-2810:00 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. 4
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 6, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/06/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC) HC 9 P. 4
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 3

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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