New Hampshire Expands Gun Rights What Employers Should Know

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed into law HB 1336, a “guns at work” bill that expanded gun rights in the state of New Hampshire which is a permitless carry state. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2025. 

Employee Right to Store Guns in their Vehicle (Applies to Specific Employers) 

Under the new law, employers who receive public funds from the state or federal government and the state or any municipality employer may not restrict employees from storing legally owned firearms  or ammunition in their vehicles while parked on the employer’s property. The firearm and ammunition must be out of sight and the vehicle must be locked. Employers are also prohibited from taking adverse action against any employee who stores a firearm or ammunition in accordance with the new law. 

Employee Right to Privacy (Applies to All Employers)

All employers are prohibited from requiring an employee to disclose whether or not they are storing a firearm or ammunition in their vehicle and cannot search the employee’s vehicle for firearms or ammunition.  

Employers’ Continuing Rights

Private employers still have the right to set rules regarding weapons at work. Firearms may still be banned at work except for firearms stored properly in an employee’s personal vehicle parked at work. Firearms may still be banned from being stored in employer-owned vehicles. 

Employer Liability

Under the new law, employers will not be held liable in any civil action for damages or economic loss, injury, or death arising out of another person’s action involving a firearm or ammunition stored pursuant to this law, unless the employer or an agent of the employer intentionally solicited or procured the other person’s injurious action. 

Conclusion

Employers should review any workplace policies they have in place to make sure they comply with the new requirements in case they have not done so yet. Managers and supervisors should be trained on any policy changes and clear communication should be issued to employees regarding what has changed and the requirements they must comply with in order to keep firearms in their vehicles.