HB 609-FN (2026): relative to the general court's authority over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, and other matter pertaining to firearms, stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray devices, knives and other self-defense tools.

HB 609-FN (2026)

relative to the general court's authority over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, and other matter pertaining to firearms, stun guns, Tasers, pepper spray devices, knives and other self-defense tools.

• Status: Died on the table
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
• Senate committee: Judiciary
• Subject: State Government

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 30, 2025, with 61 people signed in online: 14 in support and 47 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 19, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held a work session on October 22, 2025. The committee met in executive session on October 22, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. A floor amendment (2026-0019h), offered by Rep. Samuel Farrington, was adopted on a roll call 193–152 on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 193–151. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 10, 2026. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1917s). The committee's amendment (2026-1917s) was rejected on a voice vote on May 14, 2026. A floor amendment (2026-1987s), offered by Sen. Daryl Abbas, was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 14, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1987s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Terry Roy. On May 14, 2026 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Bill Gannon. A committee of conference met on May 27, 2026 and May 28, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On June 4, 2026 the Senate adopted the conference report (2026-2114c) on a roll call 15–8. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted “Lay HB609 on Table” on a roll call 182–160, on a motion by Rep. Matthew Wilhelm. The bill died on the table when the session ended on August 19, 2026, having been set aside and never taken back up.

Sponsors

• Rep. Samuel Farrington (R - Straf 8) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Cyril Aures (R - Merr 13)
• Rep. Susan DeRoy (R - Straf 3)
• Rep. Sayra DeVito (R - Rock 8)
• Rep. Matt Drew (R - Hills 19)
• Rep. Erica Layon (R - Rock 13)
• Rep. Donald McFarlane (R - Graf 18)
• Rep. Clayton Wood (R - Merr 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 30, 2025, 4:00 PM: public hearing, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• March 19, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, LOB 202-204
• October 22, 2025, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, GP 230
• October 22, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Criminal Justice and Public Safety, GP 230
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• March 10, 2026, 1:30 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100
• May 14, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 27, 2026, 11:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 234
• May 28, 2026, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, GP 231
• June 4, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• June 4, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Adopt Floor Amendment — yeas 193, nays 152, passed
• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 193, nays 151, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1987s — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1987s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• June 4, 2026, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — yeas 15, nays 8, passed
• June 4, 2026, House: Lay on Table — yeas 182, nays 160, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 159:26

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 21
• HJ 1, pages 87 and 92
• SC 9
• SC 18A
• SJ 12
• HJ 13, page 147
• SJ 13
• HJ 14, page 32
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, page 29
• HJ 16
• This page’s data as JSON