HB1115

There is no such thing as a 'citizen of NH' - you have to be a 'citizen of the US' to vote.

This is just another voter suppression bill. No thank you.

I see no need for this bill. We are citizens of the United States and residents of NH. I see no need to complicate matters by having to prove we are citizens of New Hampshire when we are already citizens of the United States.

This another attempt at voter intimidation, and you all know it. There is no voter fraud, because you intimidate people at the polls, especially married women, requiring proof of citizenship and verification of name changes when registering to vote in a new town. If the Republican party had morals and ethics you wouldn't need to suppress votes in a manipulative way such as requiring people to "take a pledge of allegiance to New Hampshire." This is ridiculous.

We need to encourage people to vote! This bill only puts another obstacle in their way.

This is a nuisance bill and should not even be considered.

I am a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of NH. This bill and its definition of a "citizen of NH" is just another way of restricting the vote. Vote ITL on this bill.

My name is Kim Lawrence, and I am a resident of New Hampshire. I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to HB 1115, which would insert into RSA 21 a sweeping statutory definition of “Citizen of New Hampshire” to mean “a citizen of the United States of America who is domiciled in New Hampshire,” and apply that definition broadly throughout state statutes. While HB 1115 is brief, the consequences of creating a statewide, cross-statute “citizen of New Hampshire” definition are significant and potentially harmful — particularly in this current political landscape of uncertainty, where we should be focused on strengthening protections, not creating new pathways for exclusion. 1) HB 1115 creates a broad legal tool that can be weaponized later HB 1115 is not simply “clarifying language.” It creates a universal definition that can be referenced across many areas of law that affect access to services, eligibility standards, and civil participation. That is a major concern because once defined, this term can later be used to: restrict eligibility for programs, narrow access to protections, or justify exclusionary policy, without the public clearly understanding how the definition is being applied. New Hampshire should not be building statutory infrastructure that can become a gatekeeping mechanism. 2) It unnecessarily targets and excludes immigrant communities and lawful residents New Hampshire is home to residents who are not U.S. citizens but who: work here, pay taxes here, raise children here, attend school here, and contribute meaningfully to our communities. HB 1115 codifies language that can be used to treat these neighbors as less legitimate — not as valued members of our communities, but as permanent outsiders in the eyes of state law. This is harmful, divisive, and unnecessary. At a time when political rhetoric and policy across the country has increased fear and instability for immigrant families, we need to protect our most vulnerable communities — not create new definitions that can be used to exclude them. 3) “Domicile” is legally complex and invites disputes, not clarity HB 1115 uses the term domiciled, which is a strict legal concept and is often contested. Domicile can involve: intent, competing residences, documentation, and subjective determinations. This opens the door to inconsistent enforcement and bureaucratic confusion — especially impacting: students, domestic violence survivors temporarily relocated, military families, people with seasonal employment or housing, and individuals with complicated living arrangements. If the bill’s goal is clarity, “domicile” moves the state in the opposite direction — toward legal disputes. 4) This bill solves no demonstrated statewide problem HB 1115 does not identify: a legal crisis caused by undefined “NH citizen” language, an agency inability to implement law, or any urgent need for a sweeping definition. If specific statutes require clarification, the legislature should address those narrowly and transparently in context — rather than inserting a broad definitional tool into RSA 21 that automatically reaches across state law. Conclusion In this moment of uncertainty, New Hampshire should focus on strengthening the stability of families and communities — not passing broad definitional language that can be used later to restrict rights, benefits, or participation. HB 1115 creates an exclusionary statewide definition with far-reaching consequences, invites confusion and litigation over domicile, and increases the risk of harm to immigrant communities and other vulnerable populations. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to vote Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1115. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully submitted, Kim Lawrence New Hampshire

What is this ridiculous “citizen of New Hampshire” as a voting requirement???? Is this another "secede" bill??? I'm a citizen of THE UNITED STATES, and that's all I need to vote, in ANY state. Geesh. This bill is an embarrassment, please vote NO.

Please stop wasting Legislators' and the public's time on such performative nonsense. One can only be a CITIZEN of a COUNTRY. (It's a good thing that the taxpayers of New Hampshire are not paying the sponsors one cent more than they are. Sponsors: Put your efforts into something that will improve the lives of NH residents!)

I am pretty sure this bill is just a way to allow ICE more access to people who are legally living in NH and/or trying to restrict lawful voters. We don't need this.

I am opposed to HB1115. I am a citizen of the United States who happens to live in New Hampshire. There is not, nor should not ever be, separate citizenship for NH or any other state. We are one country! I suspect the underlying intent of HB1115 is one more attempt to confuse and restrict voter eligibility. NH law is is already clear that a person must be a citizen of the US and a resident of NH to vote here. We do not need to muddy the waters with this unnecessary bill. Please vote ITL on HB1115.

This is a foolish bill. And to require voters to declare in any fashion that they are "citizens" of NH in order to vote is nonsensical. We are residents of NH and citizens of the United States. One is not a citizen of a state - NH or any other state.

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