Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
SB 223-FN - AS INTRODUCED SESSION 25-0584 07/08 SENATE BILL 223-FN AN ACT relative to using college or university student identification cards to obtain a ballot.
SPONSORS:
Sen.
Sullivan, Dist 18;
Sen.
Murphy, Dist 16;
Rice,See, Hills.Merr.
38;26 May 4, 2026 2026-1829h 07/05 Amendment to SB 223-FN Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
Rep.3 AN ACT relative valid photo identification for purposes of obtaining a ballot and relative to the production of lists of certain schools of higher education.
Notter,6 Hills.Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
12;8 1 Election Procedure;
Rep.Voting Procedure;
Moffett,Obtaining Merr.a Ballot.
4Amend COMMITTEE:RSA 659:13, II(a) to read as follows:
ElectionII.(a) LawA andvalid Municipalphoto Affairsidentification ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────shall ANALYSISshow Thisthe billname providesof forthe in-stateindividual tuitionto atwhom any institution in the universityidentification systemwas ofissued, Newand Hampshire or the communityname collegeshall systemsubstantially forconform anyto personthe whoname isin registeredthe toindividual's votevoter inregistration thisrecord; state.
Theit bill also removesshall collegeshow ora universityphotograph identificationof cardsthe fromindividual validto photowhom the identification forwas obtainingissued. a ballot.
-The -photo -identification -shall -also -have -an -expiration -date -that -has -not -been -exceeded -by -a -period -of -more -than -5 -years, -except -that -a -voter -65 -years -of -age -or -older -may -use -an -otherwise -qualified -form -of -identification -without -regard -to -expiration -date. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explanation:
Matter[The] addedOnly tothe currentfollowing lawforms appearsof inidentification boldbearing italics.a photograph of the voter shall satisfy the identification requirements of paragraph I:
Matter2 removedRepeal. from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.] Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
SBRSA 223-FN21-N:4, -VII, ASrelative INTRODUCEDto 25-0584the 07/08duty STATEof OFthe NEWcommissioner HAMPSHIREof In the Yeardepartment of Oureducation Lordto Twoprovide Thousanda Twentylist Fiveof ANcertain ACTschools relativeoperating toin usingNew collegeHampshire orto universitythe studentsecretary identificationof cardsstate, tois obtainrepealed. a ballot.
Be3 itEffective EnactedDate. by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section;
State College and University System;
In-state Tuition for Persons Registered to Vote.
Amend RSA 187-A by inserting after section 20-e the following new section:
187-A:20-f In-state Tuition for Persons Registered to Vote.
The board of trustees shall provide the in-state undergraduate tuition rate at any institution in the university system of New Hampshire for up to 4 years for any person who submits to the board satisfactory written proof that such person is registered to vote in this state.
To receive the in-state rate, such person shall submit to the board proof of registration to vote prior to the beginning of each academic year.
2 New Section;
Community College System;
In-state Tuition.
Amend RSA 188-F by inserting after section 16-c the following new section:
188-F:16-d In-state Tuition for Persons Registered to Vote.
The board of trustees shall provide the in-state undergraduate tuition rate at any institution in the community college system of New Hampshire for any person who submits to the board satisfactory written proof that such person is registered to vote in this state.
To receive the instate rate, such person shall submit to the board proof of registration to vote prior to the beginning of each academic year.
3 Voting Procedures;
Obtaining a Ballot;
Student Identification Cards RSA 659:13, II(a)(5) is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
(A) The card is issued by:
(ii) A public high school in New Hampshire.
(ii) A nonpublic high school in New Hampshire accredited by a private school accrediting agency that is recognized by the department of education.
(B) The card has either an expiration date or an issuance date that has not been exceeded by a period of more than 5 years.
4 Effective Date.
LBAAmendment 25-0584to 1/3/25 SB 223-FN-223-FN FISCAL- NOTEPage AS2 INTRODUCED- AN2026-1829h ACTAMENDED relativeANALYSIS toThis usingbill collegerequires orthat universityonly studentthe forms of identification cardslisted in RSA 659:13, II(a) be used to obtainsatisfy avoter ballot.identification requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
Estimated State Impact FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 USNH:
Indeterminable Decrease Revenue $0 CCSNH:
$100,000 to $500,000 Decrease Revenue Fund(s) CCSNH & USNH Operating Funds Expenditures* $0 $0 $0 $0 Funding Source(s) None Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0 Funding Source(s) None *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill METHODOLOGY:
This bill provides for in-state tuition at any institution in the University System of New Hampshire or the Community College System for any person who is registered to vote in this state.
The bill also removes college or university identification cards from valid photo identification for obtaining a ballot.
The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) projects a significant revenue decline due to the marked difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
This could prompt many, if not all, out-of-state students to register to vote in order to qualify for in-state tuition.
Out-of- state tuition revenue would decrease to unsustainable levels.
Additionally, USNH anticipates a drop in New Hampshire student enrollment due to the likely in-state tuition increase.
Moreover, the bill would only grant in-state tuition to out-of-state students for four years.
Out- of-state students expecting to graduate in their fifth or sixth year would face a tuition increase in those last two years, potentially lowering graduation rates and affecting the institution's reputation.
The USNH estimates the fiscal impact on its operating budget will be a decrease of $141.6 million annually.
The estimate is based on the fiscal year 24 in- and out-of-state undergraduate gross tuition revenue differential, a 50/50 student residency mix, and 1.75% U.S.
nonresident alien undergraduate enrollment share.
FISCAL YEAR 2024 UNDERGRADUATE GROSS TUITION REVENUES Total Out-of-State Tuition $269,700,000 Decrease in U.S.
Nonresident -$4,700,000 Alien Share of Out-of-State Tuition at 1.75% In-State Tuition Rate for Out of -$123,400,000 State Students Total Revenue Loss if Out-of- $141,600,000 State Students Paid In-State Rate Note, the fiscal impact of assumptions related to increased tuition rates for all students, decreased in-state enrollment, impact of fifth/sixth-year out-of-state student revenues, and reputation damage from institutional aid limitations and lower graduation rates are indeterminable and are not factors in this estimate.
To address the likely decrease in out-of-state tuition revenue, USNH would need to find ways to address the revenue shortfall.
USNH assumes it would need to fill the revenue gap with increased in-state tuition rates and reduced institutional aid for the university system's over 26,000 students.
The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) reports that most of their students are New Hampshire residents, resulting in a lower number of out-of-state students that would be eligible for in-state tuition based on this bill.
Furthermore, CCSNH indicates that multiple factors influence the anticipated fiscal impact on the CCSNH Operating Budget, projecting a budget decrease ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.
The Department of State indicates this bill will have no impact on the department.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Community College System of New Hampshire, Department of State, and University System of New Hampshire