HB 639, titled "The Blockchain Basic Laws," establishes legal protections for blockchain technology and digital assets in New Hampshire. It prohibits government restrictions on using digital assets for purchases, self-custody of digital assets, and payments using digital assets without additional taxes. The bill protects home digital asset mining (within noise ordinances) and digital asset mining businesses (in industrial zones), prevents discriminatory electricity rates for mining, and creates a specialized "blockchain dispute docket" in superior courts to handle blockchain-related legal matters. It also recognizes smart contract-based trusts as legally valid and protects private keys from being compelled in legal proceedings.
SB 519 creates a new legal right for individuals to sue when drones (small unmanned aircraft systems) are used to take images or video of private property without permission, in situations where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. It prohibits drone operators from conducting such surveillance over private property without the property owner's written consent, except for specific exceptions like law enforcement with a warrant, utility inspections, or property appraisals for taxes. The law presumes a reasonable expectation of privacy in areas not visible from public ground level (such as backyards), allowing victims to seek compensation, court orders to stop the activity, and legal fees. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and has minimal fiscal impact.
This bill establishes consumer protections for digital kiosks that allow people to buy, sell, or transfer digital assets (like cryptocurrency) using cash. It requires kiosks to hold first-time transactions for 48 hours (with a cancellation option), limit daily spending to $5,000 for new users and $15,000 for existing users, and display clear warnings about scams (e.g., "no government agency will ever demand payment by crypto"). Operators must verify identities, block transactions to known scam addresses, disclose all fees and reference prices, and provide detailed receipts. These rules directly affect kiosk operators and consumers, particularly older adults targeted by scammers.
HB 1444 requires New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (counties, cities, towns) to stop purchasing or acquiring drones not on an official "cleared list" after January 1, 2028. The bill mandates the Department of Safety to create and maintain a public list of security-compliant drones by that date, including models cleared by the Defense Department, meeting federal security standards, or proven incapable of unauthorized data transmission. All state and local procurement must prioritize drones on this list, with contracts for non-listed drones deemed void. The bill has no new funding impact, as noted in its fiscal analysis.
