Laws › Title LXII: Criminal Code

RSA 646-A

Chapter 646-A: Desecration of the Flag

The text as the General Court's table holds it. Includes changes through 2026; 2027 laws not yet included. Taken from the General Court's database on October 19, 2026. The official text on gc.nh.gov.

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MLA
“Chapter 646-A: Desecration of the Flag.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/laws/646-a. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.
APA
Granite Record. (n.d.). Chapter 646-A: Desecration of the Flag. Retrieved 19 Oct. 2026, from https://graniterecord.org/laws/646-a
Chicago
Granite Record. “Chapter 646-A: Desecration of the Flag.” Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. https://graniterecord.org/laws/646-a.
BibTeX
@misc{laws-646-a, title = {Chapter 646-A: Desecration of the Flag}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/laws/646-a}, note = {Accessed 19 Oct. 2026} }

646-A:1 Definitions.

In this chapter:

I. "Desecration" means the act of diverting from a sacred purpose or use to which a flag has been devoted by another individual or group of individuals. The act of desecration shall include burning, defacing, mutilating, destroying or trampling upon the flag.

II. "Flag of the United States" means any flag that is the commonly accepted "stars and stripes" or that flag described in Executive Order #10834 of President Eisenhower, August 25, 1959, and succeeding attachments to such Executive Order.

III. "Properly displayed" means any flag of the United States attached to a public or private building by means of a pole or any other attachment which renders the flag of the United States to be displayed according to commonly accepted flag etiquette; any flag of the United States displayed in a cemetery to mark a memorial or veteran's gravesite; any flag of the United States displayed for a certain period of time to mark a national holiday; any flag of the United States which is historic and is maintained in a display case for public viewing; or any flag of the United States displayed in accordance with Public Law 623, approved June 22, 1942 and amendments thereto.

Source. 1990, 135:2, eff. April 19, 1990.

How it has changed

From the section's source note, newest first.

646-A:2 Desecration Prohibited.

I. It shall be unlawful to knowingly desecrate a flag of the United States while it is properly displayed.

II. It shall be unlawful to knowingly desecrate a flag of the United States while it is the property of another.

Source. 1990, 135:2, eff. April 19, 1990.

How it has changed

From the section's source note, newest first.

Other bills that proposed changes

Bills whose own text says they change this section, and that are not in its history above.

646-A:3 Destruction of a Worn Flag of the United States Allowed.

When the flag of the United States is worn or frayed or torn or in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of the United States, it should be destroyed in a dignified manner, preferably by burning privately.

Source. 1990, 135:2, eff. April 19, 1990.

How it has changed

From the section's source note, newest first.

646-A:4 Penalties.

Whoever knowingly casts contempt upon the flag of the United States by desecrating the flag when it is properly displayed or is the property of another shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source. 1990, 135:2, eff. April 19, 1990.

How it has changed

From the section's source note, newest first.

Other bills that proposed changes

Bills whose own text says they change this section, and that are not in its history above.