HB 1240 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Felony for threatening with a weapon

relative to the apparent use of a deadly weapon during the offense of criminal threatening.

Elevates criminal threatening to a class B felony when the offender uses, or appears to use, a deadly weapon during certain violations of the criminal threatening statute.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 10, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✕Senate
Governor
Law

Analysis

This bill makes it a class B felony to violate certain provisions of the criminal threatening statute while using what reasonably appears to the victim to be a deadly weapon. This bill is a request of the county attorneys.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

162 signed in online · 152 wrote testimony

0% support100% oppose0% neutral

AgainstVague "apparent use of a deadly weapon" standard risks self-defense, gives prosecutors too much discretion

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am writing to ask that you vote Inexpedient to Legislate on HB 1240. I want to explain my concern with this bill thoughtfully, because it raises questions about how criminal threatening laws interact with lawful self defense and constitutionally protected conduct.…”

— Patrick Leblanc, Whitefieldopposes

“Horrible bill to take a victims word that he THOUGHT an object was a deadly weapon. This has nothing to do with behavior and everything to do with victims THOUGHTS to create a new felony. The victim obviously has animus and is sure to use it in getting even.”

— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

“Lowers burden of proof and increases risk of wrongful charges; expands prosecutorial discretion.”

— Hannah Meiselman, Manchesteropposes

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 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass7–6
Overall
54% yea
Mar 11, 2026HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted170–162
Overall
51% yea
Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
Overall
100% yea
Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

Jan 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:42:02–1:45:433m 41slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 170-162
Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary50:08–59:229m 14slocated in the stream transcript==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing
Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — 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. 12
Jan 29, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/29/2026 02:30 pm GP 159
Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 02:30 pm GP 159
Feb 13, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/13/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 10 P. 32
Mar 2, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 170-162 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 77
Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
Mar 31, 2026Sen==ROOM CHANGE== Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:25 pm; SC 12
Apr 16, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/16/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 14
Apr 16, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Introducedversion

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