HB1049 Relative to storage requirements for firearms.
Relative to storage requirements for firearms.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Firearm owners face mandatory costs for safety devices with all purchases and potential $1,000 fines for non-compliance, though the fiscal note indicates indeterminable expenditure impacts on local enforcement.
Your Community
The bill aims to reduce child access to unsecured firearms and prevent incidents involving minors, potentially decreasing unintentional shootings and child harm, though enforcement costs on counties and municipalities are noted as indeterminable.
Your Freedom
The bill restricts how firearm owners can store their weapons and requires safety devices on all sales, limiting personal discretion over firearm management in one's own home.
Status
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Sponsor
David Meuse (D)
The Short Version
This bill requires firearms to be securely stored when not in use to prevent minor access, mandates that all firearm sales include a locking safety device, and significantly increases criminal penalties for negligent storage from a violation to a class B misdemeanor (or class A if injury/death results). NH residents who own firearms will face new storage requirements and compliance costs, while law enforcement will handle more criminal cases.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Minors and children by reducing unauthorized access to unsecured firearms
- ▲ Parents and guardians seeking to prevent accidental juvenile firearm incidents
- ▲ Communities potentially experiencing reduced unintentional firearm injuries involving children
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Firearm owners who must purchase safety devices for all firearms and comply with storage requirements
- ▼ Licensed firearms dealers required to include safety devices with all sales
- ▼ Private firearm sellers subject to the same requirements and potential $1,000 fines
- ▼ County and local law enforcement facing indeterminable enforcement and prosecution costs
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.