This bill introduces new provisions regarding civil restraining orders and the handling of firearms in such cases. It mandates that individuals seeking restraining orders must be informed and must acknowledge their understanding that any material false statements made in their petitions could lead to prosecution for perjury, as specified in the new language the court shall require the person seeking the restraining order to be informed and to sign acknowledging his or her understanding that any material false statement made in the petition may be prosecuted for perjury pursuant to RSA 641:1.. Additionally, the bill allows individuals in non-domestic violence situations to opt not to seek the removal of firearms or deadly weapons from the restrained party unless specifically requested in the petition and deemed necessary for safety by the court, as indicated by the insertions Notwithstanding this paragraph, if the court finds that there is no domestic violence as defined in RSA 173-B, the court shall not require the restrained individual to surrender any firearm, ammunition, or deadly weapon unless:. Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws related to stalking and orders of protection, ensuring that the same requirements regarding false statements and firearm surrender apply. The changes aim to clarify the legal process for obtaining restraining orders while balancing the rights of individuals involved. The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2026, and it is projected to have a minimal fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each fiscal year from 2026 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 633:3-a
HB700 text: 633:3-a