HB 1130 - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2659
11/10
HOUSE BILL 1130
SPONSORS: Rep. Santonastaso, Ches. 18
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a statutory commission to study the economic, legal, and sociological aspects of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign state rights.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2659
11/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Commission for Sovereign State Rights. Amend RSA 1 by inserting after section 13 the following new section:
1:13-a Commission Established; Secession. There is established a commission to study the economic, legal, and sociological aspects of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign state rights.
I. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, including one member from the state-federal relations and veterans affairs committee, and one member from the executive departments and administration committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) A member of the public, appointed by the governor.
(d) A member of the public, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(e) A member of the public, appointed by the senate president.
(f) The attorney general, or designee.
(h) One member representing the Business and Industry Association, appointed by the association.
(i) One member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.
(j) One member representing the university system of New Hampshire knowledgeable in political science and state creation, appointed by the chancellor.
(k) One representative from the division of travel and tourism development, appointed by the division director.
(l) The president of the Foundation for New Hampshire Independence.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. The commission shall study the economic, legal, and sociological aspects of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign state rights. The commission shall consider the following questions:
What are the fiscal implications of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign rights?
What currency would an independent New Hampshire use?
How would interstate travel and commerce be managed?
How would law enforcement and criminal justice function in an independent state?
What would New Hampshire's domestic energy policy look like?
What health care system would be in place?
How would New Hampshire defend itself against domestic and foreign threats?
What would be the impact on federal entitlements, such as Social Security and Medicare?
Under what circumstances would asserting sovereign rights be most viable?
What would citizenship and naturalization processes look like?
What would be New Hampshire's immigration policy?
How would properties currently under federal or interstate jurisdiction be managed or negotiated?
How would residents who oppose independence be treated?
What would be the status of current foreign nationals and U.S. permanent residents in New Hampshire?
Which international bodies and nation-states could be allies or partners following an affirmative independence vote?
IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall file both an interim and final report. The reports shall outline:
(a) The best, worst, and most likely scenarios for secession;
(b) Strategies for maintaining an amicable relationship with the United States, if applicable;
(c) The answers to the questions in paragraph III.
VI. The commission shall report its interim findings to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2024. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2025.
2 Repeal. RSA 1:13-a, relative to a commission to study the economic, legal, and sociological aspects of New Hampshire exerting its sovereign state rights, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2025.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.