Technology (Artificial Intelligence)

SB 657 creates an AI Analyst position within New Hampshire's Attorney General's office to monitor AI development and investigate deceptive uses, with $150,000 annually allocated for this role. It also establishes an AI Oversight Commission to study AI's impact on labor, health, education, and political campaigns, and to recommend policies. The bill adds civil penalties for businesses or entities using AI deceptively - such as generating misleading content without disclosure - allowing victims to seek damages of $1,000-$25,000 per violation. This directly affects consumers (protected from deceptive AI marketing), workers (monitored for wage or discrimination risks), and businesses (required to disclose AI use in commercial or political contexts).

HB 1725 establishes New Hampshire’s first comprehensive AI regulation, applying to businesses, government entities, and developers operating in the state or serving residents with AI systems. It requires clear consumer disclosure when interacting with AI (except emergencies), prohibits discriminatory AI development or use for social scoring/manipulation, and bans government use of biometrics without consent. Key mechanisms include creating a 7-member AI Council for oversight, a 36-month regulatory sandbox for testing innovations, and granting the Attorney General enforcement authority with fines up to $200,000 per violation. The law preempts local AI regulations and takes effect January 1, 2027, with no new state funding required.

HB 1124 establishes the "Right to Compute Act" in New Hampshire, creating a constitutional right for residents to privately own and use computational resources (like computers, software, networks, and AI tools) for lawful purposes. It prohibits government entities from restricting this right except for specific, narrowly defined compelling interests - such as preventing AI infrastructure risks, stopping fraud, protecting minors from deepfakes, or addressing datacenter nuisances. The bill defines "computational resources" broadly to include all technology enabling data processing, and "government action" to cover any rules or policies limiting such tools. It explicitly preserves existing intellectual property laws and does not override federal regulations. This law directly affects all New Hampshire residents using digital tools by strengthening protections against unwarranted government interference.

SB 640 prohibits using artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license (such as psychology, mental health, or substance abuse counseling) unless those services are delivered by a licensed professional. The bill specifically bans AI from replacing human professionals in direct client interactions, though it allows AI for administrative tasks like scheduling or billing. It also authorizes the Office of Professional Licensure to collect fees to cover enforcement costs for violations. This applies to all licensed professions in New Hampshire, with additional specific rules for psychologists and mental health practitioners.

HB 1406 prohibits health insurance companies (health carriers) from using artificial intelligence to override doctors' clinical decisions. Specifically, it bans AI from auditing or adjusting provider codes based on AI recommendations that would change a physician's professional judgment about patient care. Health carriers must document all AI use in claims processing and provide these records to regulators. Violations are considered unfair insurance practices, potentially resulting in fines or restitution for denied care. The law directly affects healthcare providers and insurers, taking effect January 1, 2027.