This bill amends RSA 159:13 to establish that it is a class A felony to change, alter, remove, or obliterate the name of the maker, model, manufacturer's number, or any other mark of identification on a firearm, including pistols, revolvers, and other firearms. The bill also specifies that possession of such firearms with altered identification marks will serve as presumptive evidence that the possessor has committed the act of changing or removing these marks. The previous penalty for this offense, which was classified as a misdemeanor, has been elevated to a class A felony.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments, particularly concerning the judicial and correctional systems due to potential increases in prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs. The bill does not anticipate any revenue generation but may lead to increased expenditures related to the enforcement of the new felony classification.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 159:13
SB466 text: 159:13