HB 551-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2025 SESSION

25-0201

05/09

HOUSE BILL 551-FN

AN ACT repealing the license to sell pistols and revolvers.

SPONSORS: Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSIS

This bill repeals the local licensing requirement for the sale of pistols and revolvers.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0201

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

AN ACT repealing the license to sell pistols and revolvers.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers; Cross-Reference Deleted.  Amend RSA 159:6-g to read as follows:

159:6-g  Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers.  A law enforcement officer who issues a license in good faith under RSA 159:6 [or 159:8] shall be immune from liability resulting or arising from any action or misconduct with a firearm committed by any individual to whom a license to carry a firearm has been issued.

2  Repeal.  The following are repealed:

I.  RSA 159:8, relative to the license to sell pistols and revolvers.

II.  RSA 159:8-a, relative to sale of a pistol or revolver to a nonresident.

III.  RSA 159:8-b, relative to penalties for the sale of a pistol or revolver to a nonresident in violation of RSA 159:8-a.

IV.  RSA 159:10, relative to penalties for sale without a license required under RSA 159:8.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

LBA

25-0201

1/2/25

HB 551-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT repealing the license to sell pistols and revolvers.

FISCAL IMPACT:  

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective January 1, 2026, repeals the local licensing requirement for the sale of pistols and revolvers. To the extent a municipality currently collects a fee for such licenses, it may experience a decrease in revenue. There is no impact expected on state revenues or expenditures.

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf. Aside from those relative to this bill's elimination of existing statutory criminal penalties, neither the Department of Safety nor the Department of Justice have identified any other impacts this bill may have on state, county, and local revenue or expenditures.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, Department of Safety, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association