New Hampshire HB 1445: requiring the issuance of enhanced drivers licenses and Real ID compliant cards for border crossing and proof of citizenship.

Bill Text

HB 1445-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2750

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1445-FN

AN ACT requiring the issuance of enhanced drivers licenses and Real ID compliant cards for border crossing and proof of citizenship.

SPONSORS: Rep. Johnson, Straf. 11; Rep. St. Clair, Belk. 5; Rep. Veilleux, Hills. 34; Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. Plamondon, Hills. 3; Rep. Miller, Straf. 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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ANALYSIS

 This bill requires the division of motor vehicles to issue enhanced driver licenses and Real ID compliant cards to United States citizens who are residents of New Hampshire for use as identity and citizenship documentation when entering the United States by land or sea.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2750

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT requiring the issuance of enhanced drivers licenses and Real ID compliant cards for border crossing and proof of citizenship.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Enhanced Drivers' Licenses and Identification Cards. Amend RSA 263:1-d, I to read as follows: 

 I. The department [may] shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with any federal agency for the purpose of obtaining approval of an enhanced driver's license or enhanced nondriver's picture identification card as proof of identity and citizenship for persons entering the United States at land and sea ports, in accordance with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative developed by the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Homeland Security. 

 2 Nondriver's Picture Identification Card. Amend RSA 260:21, XII to read as follows: 

 XII. At the request of a resident who is otherwise eligible for an identification card pursuant to RSA 260:21, I and II, and is willing and able to meet the additional requirements of RSA 260:21-a or RSA 260:21-b, the department [may] shall issue a nondriver's picture identification card that is compliant with the standards of the Real ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, and its implementing regulations, including, but not limited to, 6 C.F.R. part 37, or an enhanced identification card as proof of identity and citizenship for persons entering the United States at land and sea ports which meet the standards of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative developed by the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Homeland Security, and its associated regulations, including but not limited to Documents Required for Travelers Departing From or Arriving in the United States at Sea and Land Ports-of-Entry From Within the Western Hemisphere, 73 Fed. Reg. 18,384, Apr. 3, 2008, respectively, in lieu of an identification card defined in RSA 260:21. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 

 LBA

 26-2750

 11/24/25

HB 1445-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT requiring the issuance of enhanced drivers licenses and Real ID compliant cards for border crossing and proof of citizenship.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

 Revenue Fund(s)

Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue

 Expenditures*

$0

$563,000+

Indeterminable Increase

 Funding Source(s)

Highway Fund and Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

Indeterminable Increase

 Local Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Safety enter into a memorandum of understanding with any federal agency for the purpose of issuing enhanced driver licenses and nondriver’s identification cards. It also requires that anyone applying for an identification card receives a REAL ID compliance card, however, does not mandate the REAL ID for driver licenses. New Hamp