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HB 1697 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

NH-made firearms federal exemption

AI-generated

exempting certain firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and retained in New Hampshire from federal regulation.

Exempts certain firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and retained within New Hampshire from federal regulation.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill exempts certain firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and retained in New Hampshire from federal regulation.

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

“Any firearm or firearm accessory manufactured in this state, including rifles, pistols, revolvers, shotguns, slides, receivers, barrels, suppressors, magazines, grips, and stocks, may be marked "For N.H.”
RSA 159-G:1
“It shall be a class B misdemeanor to export or transfer a marked firearm or firearm accessory under RSA 159-G:1 outside the borders of this state.”
RSA 159-G:2
“Each marked firearm or firearm accessory shall include a unique serial number inscribed thereon, consisting of the first three letters of the city, town, or unincorporated place of manufacture, followed by the two-digit month, two-digit day, and two-digit year of manufacture, and adding sequential additional digits for further items manufactured on the same day.”
RSA 159-G:3
“Export is Criminal," that are located within this state shall be ineligible for federal regulation under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S.”
RSA 159-G:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike BelcherRPrime
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Terry RoyRChair· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

205 signed in online · 43 wrote testimony

12% support88% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“NH needs to protect its citizens from Federal over reach. Pass this bill please.”
— Bradley Louth, Hamptonsupports
“Exempting firearms and ammo from federal overreach and maintaining and strengthening support for the NH constitution is a fine way to start the day. Might we extend this narrow window for firearms to include ALL of federal overreach? The center cannot hold.”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“What is made here in NH, stays here in NH without federal regulation.”
— Rick Hiland, Albanysupports
“New Hampshire has very limited gun safety laws making it reliant on federal laws. Exempting any firearm from these laws would make our state and the rest of the country unsafe.”
— ELISSA Davis, Meredithopposes
“I oppose this bill. At a time when I have to talk myself out of the fear of sending my children to school I the morning, and I anxiously make sure we sit near an exit during a movie, given innumerable violent tragedies in this country, I feel reducing oversight of weapons unnecessarily increases risk of harm to our residents and most importantly our children.”
— Jessica Smith, Portsmouthopposes
“NH has very limited laws regulating guns (as seems to be required by the 2nd Amendment), NH has no universal background checks, no required waiting periods, and limited licensing requirements. This makes New Hampshire reliant on federal laws.…”
— Nancy Brown, Hopkintonopposes

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
  • Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass7–6
    Overall
    54% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseRoll callOught to PassAdopted188–164How they voted
    Overall
    53% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    187–498% yea
    Democrats
    1–1601% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:09:46–3:11:011m 15slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:34:41–1:37:563m 15slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 188-164
  • Mar 10, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:53–22:2619m 33slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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. 32
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 10:30 am GP 159
  3. Jan 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/14/2026 10:30 am GP 159
  4. Jan 14, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 01/14/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 5 P. 20
  5. Jan 27, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 188-164 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 24
  7. Feb 5, 2026SenIntroduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 4
  8. Mar 10, 2026SenHearing: 03/10/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 9
  9. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 04/09/2026; SC 13
  10. Apr 9, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/09/2026; SJ 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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