exempting certain firearms and firearm accessories manufactured and retained in New Hampshire from federal regulation.
HB 1697 would create a new New Hampshire law exempting firearms and accessories manufactured within the state from federal gun regulations. It requires these items to be marked "For N.H. Use Only. Export is Criminal" and prohibits their possession or transport outside New Hampshire, with violations classified as class B misdemeanors. The bill mandates unique serial numbers based on manufacturing location and date, and requires manufacturers to provide ownership transfer records. This directly affects New Hampshire firearm manufacturers, owners of these "N.H. Only" firearms, and law enforcement handling interstate transport violations. The bill has no estimated fiscal impact on state or local governments.
Bill status
failed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 12, 2025
Last action Apr 3, 2026
Floor votes · House Feb 5, 2026
How they voted
98–101
Passed · 24 other
Total votes 223
Feb 5, 2026
D
Democratic107
93% Nay
I
Independent2
50% Yea
R
Republican114
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
11
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Apr 1, 2026
Committee
Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 04/09/2026; SC 13
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 4
upper
Feb 5, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-101-24)
house
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA RC 188-164 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 24
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/14/2026 (Vote 7-6; RC) HC 5 P. 20
lower
Dec 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 32
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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