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HB 1049 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Safe firearm storage requirements

AI-generated

relative to storage requirements for firearms.

Requires firearms to be securely stored to prevent access by minors and unauthorized users, mandates that a locking safety device accompany firearm sales, and expands criminal penalties for negligent firearm storage.AI-generated

Status

Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires firearms to be securely stored when not in use to prevent unauthorized access by minors. It also requires that a locking safety device accompany all private and commercial firearms transactions and expands the criminal penalties for negligent storage of firearms.

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

“"Commercial sale" means a transfer of ownership of a firearm listed or made available for public sale or exchange including but not limited to, a weapon purchased or exchanged for other goods and services at a licensed firearms dealer, a gun show, or via the commercial website of a dealer.”
RSA 159:12-a
“"Personalized firearm" means a firearm that has, as part of its original manufacture, incorporated design technology that allows the firearm to be fired only by the authorized user and prevents any of the safety characteristics of the firearm from being readily deactivated by anyone other than the authorized user.”
RSA 159:12-a
“The technology limiting the firearm's operational use may include, but is not limited to, fingerprint verification, magnetic encoding, radio frequency tagging, and other automatic user identification systems utilizing biometric, mechanical, or electronic systems.”
RSA 159:12-a
“"Licensed firearms dealer," "licensed dealer," or "dealer" means a person who has a valid federal firearms dealer license under 18 U.S.C. section 923(a), and all additional licenses required by state or local law to engage in the business of selling or transferring firearms.”
RSA 159:12-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David MeuseDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Marjorie SmithDRanking Member· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Timothy HorriganD, Rep. Loren SeligD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

384 signed in online · 192 wrote testimony

54% support46% oppose0% neutral

ForGeneral common-sense public safety measure

AgainstUnconstitutional interference with immediate self-defense access

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Firearm owners need to be responsible and that includes securely storing firearms. There are too many horrific stories of young children getting a firearm and accidentally killing or harming someone else.…”
— Kathleen McGowan, Lymesupports
“Mandating proper storage of guns and ammunition can not only prevent accidental shootings, but make it more difficult for someone to seek to shoot someone in a moment of rage, when they really did not mean any harm.”
— Betty Lane, Doversupports
“Safe, secure storage keeps every one safe. NH has the opportunity to serve as a model of wha responsible gun ownership looks like.”
— Tracey Saunders, Lymesupports
“This is a family issue and not a state government issue requiring legislation.”
— James Gardner, Keeneopposes
“I am respectfully requesting that you oppose bill HB1049, for the following reasons: - The bill unfairly criminalizes good people for accidents or actions they did not commit.…”
— Teresa Brooks, Manchesteropposes
“I am writing to ask that you vote Inexpedient to Legislate on HB 1049, which would impose government mandated storage requirements for firearms. I understand the intent behind this bill and the desire to promote safety.…”
— Patrick Leblanc, Whitefieldopposes

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 11, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate7–6
    Overall
    54% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety2:12:18–2:22:009m 42slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

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 12:00 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 12:00 pm GP 159
  4. Feb 11, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/11/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 10 P. 78
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority : 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.