Bill > HB1709

This bill requires rental housing applicants in New Hampshire to disclose in writing if they are not United States citizens or not lawfully present in the United States, with "lawful presence" defined specifically as having immigration status verified by the federal government under 8 U.S. Code section 1373(c). Applicants can prove lawful presence through various forms of identification, including valid New Hampshire driver's licenses, tribal identification cards, government-issued photo IDs, foreign passports with valid U.S. visas, and passports from visa waiver countries with valid entry stamps. Landlords are prohibited from independently attempting to verify an applicant's immigration status. The bill establishes that failing to disclose non-citizen or unlawful status when applying for residential housing is a class B felony, which is a serious criminal offense that could potentially result in significant legal consequences. The law will take effect 60 days after its passage, giving landlords and potential renters time to understand and comply with the new requirements. While the fiscal note indicates no direct revenue impact, the bill may have indeterminable expenditure implications for judicial and correctional systems due to the new criminal penalty.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1879&inflect=2