Senate committee hears broad testimony on bill to invalidate out‑of‑state licenses held by undocumented people

Sen. Bill Gannon, sponsor of Senate Bill 13, told the Judiciary Committee the bill would bar New Hampshire from recognizing driver’s licenses issued by other jurisdictions to people who cannot show lawful presence in the United States. “The point of this bill is that allowing illegal aliens to drive on New Hampshire roads should be made by the State of New Hampshire,” Gannon said in opening remarks.

The bill would direct New Hampshire not to accept out‑of‑state licenses that were issued exclusively to people who lack lawful immigration status. Proponents framed the measure as a public‑safety and sovereignty step; opponents said it risks racial profiling, creates technical and fiscal hurdles for the DMV and would reduce road safety by discouraging licensing and insurance.

DMV officials told the committee the department offered informational testimony and raised technical concerns. John Marasco, director of the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles, and Jennifer Bailey, assistant director, said only two states—Connecticut and Delaware—issue licenses that are visibly marked as limited to noncitizens, and most states issue standard licenses that do not segregate cardholders by immigration status. “There are best practices on the card standard… but at the end of the day, if states don’t have the same laws, which they don’t, they can make that…