Bill Text: NH HB477 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a commission to study safety and security procedures in the New Hampshire state house.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-22 - ==RESCHEDULED== Public Hearing: 02/19/2025 09:45 am Legislative Office Building 203 [HB477 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB477-Introduced.html
HB 477 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0764
09/08
HOUSE BILL 477
AN ACT establishing a commission to study safety and security procedures in the New Hampshire state house.
SPONSORS: Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Simpson, Rock. 33; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Selig, Straf. 10; Rep. DeSimone, Rock. 18; Rep. Nelson, Rock. 13; Rep. Grossman, Rock. 11; Rep. Sykes, Graf. 14; Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 21; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Long, Dist 20
COMMITTEE: Legislative Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study the feasibility and implementation of certain state house complex safety and security procedures; provides the commission with duties; and provides for the commission's repeal.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0764
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT establishing a commission to study safety and security procedures in the New Hampshire state house.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Legislative Security; Commission on General Court Safety and Security. Amend RSA 14 by inserting after section 50 the following new section:
14:50-a Commission on General Court Safety and Security; Commission Established.
I. There is established a commission to study the feasibility and implementation of certain state house complex safety and security procedures.
II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) The governor, or designee.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house, and one appointed by the house minority leader.
(c) Two members of the senate, one appointed by the senate president, and one appointed by the senate minority leader.
(d) The general court director of safety services.
(e) The director of New Hampshire division of homeland security and emergency management, or designee.
(f) The commissioner of the New Hampshire department of safety, or designee.
(g) The director of the New Hampshire division of state police, or designee.
(h) The director of the New Hampshire division of emergency services and communications, or designee.
(i) The fire department chief of the city of Concord, or designee.
III. The commission shall study the feasibility of implementing safety practices for the general court, including but not limited to:
(a) The use of metal detectors.
(b) The use of x-ray machines.
(c) The use of security cameras.
(d) The use of visitor sign-in and identification.
(e) The implementation of a staff identification badge policy.
(f) The carrying of deadly weapons on complex grounds.
(g) Security and safety training for staff and lawmakers.
(h) Policies responding to threats of violence and intimidation from members of the public targeting lawmakers, staff, and state house visitors.
IV. The commission may solicit input from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.
V. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. On or before November 1, 2025, the commission shall submit an interim report of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the senate, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library and shall submit a final report on or before November 1, 2026.
2 Prospective Repeal. RSA 14:50-a, relative to the commission on general court safety and security, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
