prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of certain weapons on campus and establishing a committee to study the feasibility of allowing guns on campuses of public institutions of higher education.
What changed between versions
Firearm carry on campus is now limited to faculty only. The original bill allowed all persons (students, staff, visitors) to carry firearms on public college campuses without institutional restriction. The amendment removes this broad right and restricts it to faculty members.
A new legislative committee was established to study the feasibility of allowing guns on public college campuses. The committee includes 3 House members (1 from minority party) and 2 Senate members (1 from minority party), compensated with mileage at the legislative rate. Its duties include investigating costs, studying safety concerns, reviewing other states' policies, and soliciting testimony from out-of-state institutions.
Six of the eight original Statement of Findings were removed, including findings about the government's lack of duty to protect individuals (Castle Rock v. Gonzales), the Bruen historical tradition test, claims that campus gun bans are ineffective for public safety, and the finding that NH should secure the right of all law-abiding college students, faculty, staff, and visitors to carry firearms.
Public institutions of higher education are now required to develop and enact their own rules, policies, and procedures to implement the new provisions, giving them some administrative role they did not have in the original bill.
The entire remedies section (RSA 159:30) was deleted. The original allowed any individual aggrieved by a violation to sue the institution for at least $10,000 in damages plus injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and court costs. This private right of action no longer exists.
The original effective date of January 1, 2027 was removed from the amended version.