This bill amends the legal framework surrounding the offense of criminal threatening by establishing a new standard for when an individual may not be considered to have committed such an offense in response to specific threats. The revised language states that a person who displays a firearm or other lawful means of self-defense, with the intent to deter conduct perceived as likely to result in serious bodily injury, death, theft, unlawful intrusion, or refusal to leave after lawful trespass notice, shall not be deemed to have committed a criminal act under this section. The previous provision, RSA 631:4, IV, is repealed and reenacted to incorporate this new standard. Additionally, the bill clarifies that nothing in this section shall limit the open carrying of firearms as permitted by law.

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 expenditures related to the judicial and correctional systems. The estimated costs may arise from changes in prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole as a result of the modified criminal penalty. The bill does not project any revenue changes and has been reviewed by various agencies, including the Judicial Branch and the Department of Justice, to assess its implications.