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House amends and adopts bill restricting driver’s licenses for some asylum claimants and certain out-of-state licenses
Summary
The House debated Senate Bill 13, which would invalidate some out‑of‑state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants and limit license access for asylum claimants with pending cases. Lawmakers split over public-safety impacts, workforce effects and likely litigation; the committee report was adopted after extensive floor debate.
The New Hampshire House debated and adopted the committee report on Senate Bill 13, a measure that, as amended, would invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants and restrict New Hampshire driver’s licenses for certain asylum claimants.
Opponents described the measure as punitive and legally risky, saying it singles out people who have federal work authorization and are lawfully present while their asylum claims are pending. Supporters framed the bill as protecting the integrity of state-issued driving privileges and aligning licensing with final immigration adjudications.
Representative Scott Miller argued the bill "declarations of unfairness" and urged colleagues to oppose the ITL motion, saying drivers with work permits are often those who need access to roads to keep jobs. Representative Ian Walsh, supporting the bill, said the measure "puts the brakes" on licenses issued before immigration adjudication and called driving a privilege that should await resolution of legal status. Representative Miller said the legislation is an "enormous burden" on workers and could harm local employers that rely on those workers.
Representative Mary Remsen described the bill as going beyond public-safety aims, characterizing it as a "symbolic act" that creates litigation risk for the state and operational confusion for DMV and law enforcement. She said the bill would "chip away" at mutual recognition agreements and require state personnel to evaluate federal immigration status without proper authority or training.
After parliamentary inquiries and multiple roll-call preparations, the clerk announced the result and that the committee report on SB 13 was adopted by the House.
Floor debate touched repeatedly on the interplay between federal immigration law, state driver's-license agreements and practical consequences for employers and communities. Several members warned litigation is likely to follow enactment and that the bill could affect workers who already have federal authorization to work and who rely on driving to keep their jobs.
The House record shows the committee report was adopted after the debate documented here; proponents and opponents noted the possibility of legal challenges and operational strain on state agencies.
