New HampshireHome-defense law includes a condition for likely unlawful force
Starting January 1, 2027, New Hampshire's home-defense law includes a condition about likely unlawful force during a serious crime at a person's home or its immediate surroundings.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, the home-defense rule includes a condition about someone likely to use unlawful force during a serious crime against the defender or another person at the defender's home.
Argument forConsidering likely unlawful force could help people defend themselves or others at home before a threatened attack during a serious crime.
Argument againstJudging whether unlawful force is likely could leave people uncertain about when a threat meets the home-defense condition.
More detail
The law includes likely unlawful force during a serious crime as a condition in its rules for defending a person. The clause covers force against the person defending themselves or another person within the defender's home or the area immediately around it. The likely unlawful force must occur in the commission of a felony, meaning a serious crime. This clause is part of the rules for defensive force; meeting this condition alone does not establish permission to use force. The law takes effect January 1, 2027. The home-defense clause also covers the area immediately around the home.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 20Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 323; eff.01/01/2027Became Law
- Jul 6Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15To Governor
- Jul 6Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 56
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2186e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 52
- Jun 23Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2186e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14Major
- Jun 4Removed from Consent (Reps. Selig, Harriott-Gathright, Newell, R. Newman, Schultz, Parshall, Lane, Weber, Horrigan, Vail) 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 12
- Vote recorded Adopt CofC Report. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report 2026-2115c: Adopted, RC 208-140 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 19
- Jun 4Conference Committee Report # 2026-2115c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
- May 28Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2115c; 06/04/2026
- May 28Conferee Change: Rep. S. Smith Replaces Rep. Proulx 05/28/2026 HJ 14 P. 36
- May 28Conference Committee Meeting: 05/28/2026 10:30 am GP 231
- May 27Conferee Change; Senator Perkins Kwoka Replaces Senator Prentiss; SJ 14
- May 27Conferee Change; Senator Abbas Replaces Senator Gannon; SJ 14
- May 27Conference Committee Meeting: 05/27/2026 11:30 am GP 234
- May 21President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Rochefort, Prentiss; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 21Sen. Gray Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
- May 14Speaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, Rhodes, Proulx, Kofalt 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 152
- May 14House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1545s and 2026-1944s and Requests CofC (Rep. Roy): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 152
- May 14Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1545s and #2026-1944s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12Passed Senate
- May 14Sen. Prentiss Floor Amendment # 2026-1944s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
- May 14Committee Amendment # 2026-1545s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
- May 14HB 1279 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
- Apr 20Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1545s, 05/14/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 18Minor
- Apr 1Hearing: 04/09/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 13
- Mar 17Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7Minor
- Mar 11Ought to Pass: MA DV 183-144 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 78Passed House
- Mar 2Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- Mar 2Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/13/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 10 P. 33Minor
- Mar 2Executive Session: 02/13/2026 03:30 pm GP 159
- Jan 21Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 03:30 pm GP 159
- 2025
- Dec 1Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 13Introduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety