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

Death penalty for capital murder

AI-generated

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
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. 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.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Douglas TrottierRPrime

Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR, Rep. Mike BordesR

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

Hearings

  • 2026-01-1410:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-01-2310:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyGP 159Public hearing
  • 2026-02-0410:00 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. 19
  2. Jan 14, 2026House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 03:00 pm GP 159
  3. Jan 23, 2026House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 01/23/2026 11:00 am GP 159
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  5. Feb 4, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC)
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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