New Hampshire Passes House Bill 1336 Law Pertaining to Firearms in Employee Vehicles on Employer’s Parking Lots

September 30, 2024

New Hampshire’s Governor Sununu signed into law HB 1336 on July 12, 2024. This bill follows numerous other states’ similarly passed bills known as “parking lot” laws. This bill will limit the ability of certain employers to restrict the presence of firearms and ammunition on their properties. This bill will significantly expand Second Amendment protections for the legal gun owners of New Hampshire by allowing employees to store firearms and ammunition in personal vehicles on employer property.


To be clear, covered employers can still prohibit weapons of any kind on the person of the employee or in the employer’s offices, facilities, and company owned or leased vehicles. This bill simply expands protections for employees to keep their firearms in their personal vehicle.


What Employers Are Affected?


Any public or private employer within the state of New Hampshire that receives public funds from the federal or state government is affected by this law. Public funds are defined broadly in this context and include government grants, any payments under government contracts, or any other form of public funds, regardless of the amount or level of such funding.


Key Takeaways:

  • Employers cannot force an employee to disclose whether they are storing a firearm in their vehicle.
  • Searches of vehicles can only be conducted by law enforcement with a warrant or recognized exception to the warrant requirement.
  • There is no requirement that the gun must be in a locked safe or secured within the vehicle. The only requirement is that it is out of sight.
  • This bill grants employer’s civil immunity from any damages involving firearms and ammunition stored in compliance.


Next Steps for Employers:


With this new law set to take effect on January 1, 2025, employers should review their current policies and procedures now. To comply with this new law, New Hampshire employers should review their current workplace policies to identify whether any such policies will conflict with the provisions of HB 1336. This is also a great opportunity to update any workplace violence policies and enhance or initiate workplace violence training.


It is extremely important for employers to remain up to date on legislation to ensure compliance and to update existing policies as needed. 


If your business has any questions on this topic or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.

July 25, 2025
On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. CASA that federal district courts cannot block executive orders for the entire country. The Court held that such broad injunctions exceed the authority Congress granted under the Judiciary Act of 1789. Courts may now only stop enforcement for the parties in the case—not for everyone else. What Happened in the Case President Trump issued Executive Order 14160 in early 2025. It denies birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. if neither parent is a citizen or lawful permanent resident. Multiple lawsuits followed. Three federal courts blocked the order nationwide. The Supreme Court disagreed. It sent the case back and told the lower courts to revise the injunctions to cover only the named plaintiffs. The Court did not decide whether the order itself violates the Constitution. It ruled only on how far a court’s injunction can reach. Why It Matters to Employers The ruling affects how quickly and widely federal courts can stop controversial policies, especially during fast-changing political cycles. Employers have often relied on national injunctions to pause new mandates on wages, workplace safety, pay transparency, and non-compete agreements. This decision limits that option. The Court said nothing about injunctions under the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs agency rules. But the opinion raises doubts about whether even those can continue on a nationwide scale. Justice Kavanaugh suggested they might, but the Court left that question for another day. What This Means for You No nationwide protection unless you sue If your business is not part of the case, you likely cannot rely on someone else’s win. You must litigate directly to get relief. Rules may take effect in one state and not another A federal court in Texas may block a rule, while a court in New York upholds it. National companies may face conflicting rules and inconsistent enforcement. Trade groups cannot shield you Even if your industry association wins an injunction, it may apply only to their members or to the parties named in the lawsuit. Older rulings may now shrink Past national injunctions—on vaccine mandates, non-compete bans, overtime rules, or joint-employer standards—could be challenged or narrowed based on this ruling. More class actions are likely Some plaintiffs may now push for class certification to restore broader relief. Employers could face more complex litigation as a result. Next Steps for Employers Identify any current or past rules your business has relied on that are being blocked nationwide. Confirm whether you were covered by name or just assumed you were protected. Reassess your risk exposure for pending federal actions under OSHA, the EEOC, the DOL, or the NLRB. Monitor APA-based injunctions to see whether courts continue to grant broad relief under that statute. Consider joining strategic litigation early if new executive orders or agency rules would harm your operations. You cannot assume another company’s lawsuit will protect you. The Court narrowed that path. To block a federal mandate, you may now need to act alone—or join the fight directly. Michael P. Lewis is an attorney at The Royal Law Firm with experience advising clients through the litigation process. Michael helps employers resolve workplace challenges with focus, precision, and judgment. He counsels and defends businesses across Massachusetts and Connecticut, handling matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, restrictive covenants, and breach of contract. His practice includes litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. If your business has any questions on this topic or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at The Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.