KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to New Hampshire

HB1698 • 2026

relative to electronic credentials.

relative to electronic credentials.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Tom Mannion (R), Jeremy Slottje (R), Mike Drago (R), Jonah Wheeler (D), Shane Sirois (R), Peter Mehegan (R)
Last action
2026-06-24
Official status
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

relative to electronic credentials.

relative to electronic credentials.

What This Bill Does

  • relative to electronic credentials.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-24 H

    Signed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026; Chapter 178; eff. 08/18/2026

  2. 2026-06-10 S

    Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  3. 2026-06-10 H

    Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  4. 2026-05-05 S

    Ought to Pass : MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  5. 2026-04-24 S

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17

  6. 2026-04-15 S

    Hearing: 04/21/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 15

  7. 2026-02-25 S

    Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 5

  8. 2026-02-19 H

    Ought to Pass : MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 36

  9. 2026-02-11 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 22

  10. 2026-02-05 H

    Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234

  11. 2026-01-28 H

    Public Hearing: 02/03/2026 10:40 am GP 234

  12. 2025-12-12 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 32

Official Summary Text

relative to electronic credentials.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
CHAPTER 178
HB 1698 - FINAL VERSION

2026 SESSION
26-2355
09/05

HOUSE BILL
1698

AN ACT
relative to electronic credentials.

SPONSORS: Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. Slottje, Hills. 13; Rep. Sirois, Hills. 32; Rep. Drago, Rock. 4; Rep. Mehegan, Merr. 12

COMMITTEE: Transportation

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies that the statute authorizing the division of motor vehicles to establish electronic credentials does not grant the authority to compel a person to create, maintain, or display an electronic credential, nor to require any business to accept them.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.
26-2355
09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
relative to electronic credentials.

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

178:1 New Paragraph; Mobile Drivers' Licenses and Non-Driver Identification Cards; Electronic Credential; Privacy. Amend RSA 263-A:5 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
require a person to obtain an electronic credential, a
nd no person shall be compelled to create, maintain, or display an electronic credential.

178:2 New Paragraph; Acceptance of Electronic Credentials. Amend RSA 263-A:3 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:
V. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any business to accept an electronic credential.

178:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 19, 2026
Effective Date: August 18, 2026