limiting the use of state, county, and municipal funds and property for construction and operation of certain immigrant detention facilities.
HB 1609 prohibits New Hampshire state, county, and municipal governments from using public funds or property to build, operate, or pay for immigrant detention facilities, particularly those managed by private companies. It bans spending on construction, renovation, repurposing public property for detention, selling public property for such use, and making payments to private detention operators. The bill does not affect existing 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities or the provision of health and safety services to detained individuals. Counties may face potential revenue losses if they stop cooperating with federal immigration programs, but municipalities are not expected to have financial impacts.
Bill status
failed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 10, 2025
Last action Mar 13, 2026
Floor votes · House Mar 12, 2026
How they voted
101–95
Passed · 26 other
Total votes 222
Mar 12, 2026
D
Democratic107
88% Nay
I
Independent2
50% Yea
R
Republican113
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Mar 12, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (101-95-26)
house
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0207h
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 10 P. 88
lower
Dec 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 28
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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