The New Hampshire House of Representatives spent multiple hours on Jan. 8, 2025, debating and voting on a package of proposed changes to House rules. Lawmakers argued over the scope of subpoena authority, notice requirements for executive session, dress code language, firearm rules in the chamber, and several other procedural items.

Debate highlights
- Subpoena procedure (House Rule 28): Representatives offered competing views over whether committee chairs should be able to issue subpoenas directly or whether the process should remain controlled by the full House and the speaker. Opponents said the proposed change would codify a practical impossibility and risk shifting enforcement to the executive branch; supporters said it would align practice with Mason’s Manual and make committees more effective. The floor amendment to House Rule 28 was put to a division vote and failed.

- Executive session notice (House Rule 44): Members debated restoring earlier notice standards for executive session so the public has a time-certain for observation. Supporters described the prior rule as a time-honored tradition that improved transparency; opponents argued committees need flexibility to move business. A floor amendment to Rule 44 was adopted after a recorded division vote.

- Dress code (House Rule 2, floor amendment in seat pockets): A proposal to require "proper business attire" when the House is in session drew objections that the rule is vague and would be difficult to enforce; opponents warned it could lead to repeated reprimand procedures. The floor amendment to Rule 2 failed in a division vote.

- Display and possession of weapons on the floor (House Rule 64): Members debated whether to prohibit carrying or possessing deadly weapons in the chamber, the gallery, and anterooms. Supporters argued the change would restore a long-standing practice and improve safety; opponents framed it as a rollback of rights and noted New Hampshire’s recent statutory changes on carry. The motion to amend Rule 64 (to restore a prohibition on weapons in the chamber) failed on a roll call.

- Other rules and clerical fixes: The House approved multiple other changes or clarifications, including amendments that clarified the role of security personnel references, codified best practices on time limits for speakers, and adjusted procedures for consent calendar withdrawals and second-committee referrals.

Votes at a glance (selected floor actions with outcomes as recorded on the floor)
- Amendment to House Rule 66 (rules committee amendment): adopted (voice vote).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 28 (subpoena procedure; division vote): failed (division recorded on the floor).
- Motion to table adoption of an amendment to House Rule 2 (on the calendar): motion to table adopted (laid on the table by voice vote).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 43 (rules committee amendment): adopted (voice vote).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 44 (executive session notice, return-to-tradition amendment): adopted (division vote; final state of the vote announced as "The amendment is adopted").
- Floor amendment to House Rule 46(c) (procedure when a committee has no recommendation): adopted (voice vote).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 64 (add word "intentionally" re: display of deadly weapons; roll call requested): amended language adopted in one instance; a separate motion to restore prohibition on carrying weapons in the chamber failed on roll call (final tallies recorded on the floor show the amendment failed).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 39 (withdrawal by prime sponsor with cosponsor concurrence): adopted (voice vote).
- Floor amendment to House Rule 36(e) (limit on filing in second year unless six cosponsors): failed (division vote).
- Several other floor amendments and clerical fixes were considered and either adopted or failed; committees and the clerk were instructed to follow up on editorial and clerical changes.

Speaker attributions and debate excerpts are quoted from representatives who spoke on the floor; where the transcript did not tie a detail to a single speaker, the article attributes the item to the House floor or leaves it unattributed.

Ending
Members concluded the rule debates after multiple division and roll-call votes and moved on to the introduction of bills. The House recessed for a security briefing and scheduled training and caucuses for the remainder of the day.