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HB 511 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Banning sanctuary immigration policies

AI-generated

relative to cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Requires law enforcement agencies to honor federal immigration detainers when safe, bars state and local governments from adopting sanctuary policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and limits inmate citizenship inquiries to those tied to alleged state law violations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits state and local government entities from adopting sanctuary policies to prohibit or impede the enforcement of federal immigration law.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe SweeneyRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Thomas WalshRChair· Transportation
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRVice Chair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Donald McFarlaneR

Public testimony

280 signed in online · 80 wrote testimony

31% support69% oppose0% neutral

ForSanctuary policies endanger public safety

AgainstErodes trust, chilling crime reporting by victims/witnesses

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Sanctuary towns or cities that prohibit their law enforcement officers from working with federal immigration authorities not only undermine our federal immigration laws but also put law-abiding citizens at risk and create more of an incentive for illegal immigration.”
— Jonathan Stone, Claremontsupports
“Please pass this bill and keep our cities and state safe for our children.”
— Julie Sims, Newportsupports
“Please pass this bill and keep our cities and state safe for all.”
— Roy Sims, Newportsupports
“Gleaned from our opposition to similar legislation put forward in 2024: I represent many of the same constituents as you and enjoy a similar obligation to ensure the safety of our communities.…”
— Tyler Ward, PETERBOROUGH · Peterborough's Constituentsopposes
“This bill is unnecessary. It fuels hatred. There are greater needs than focusing on a bill which intends to undermine community trust in law enforcement and prevent community members from engaging with the police in cases where they are victims or witnesses of crime.”
— Peter Lovett, Holdernessopposes
“Local law enforcement would be burdened with tasks belonging to federal law enforcement, making them less available for their local responsibilities.”
— Susan Richman, Durhamopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-01-2210:00 amHouse Criminal Justice and Public SafetyLOB 301-303Public hearing
  • 2025-03-0510:00 amHouse Finance - Division ILOB 212Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1410:00 amHouse Finance - Division ILOB 212Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-0110:00 amHouse FinanceLOB 210-211Public hearing
  • 2025-04-291:00 pmSenate JudiciarySH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 13
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 03:30 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Jan 24, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/24/2025 08:00 am LOB 301-303
  4. Jan 24, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0079h 01/24/2025 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 10 P. 7
  5. Feb 6, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0079h: AA DV 356-0 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 8
  6. Feb 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0079h: MA RC 351-6 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 8
  7. Feb 6, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 12
  8. Mar 5, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/05/2025 01:00 pm LOB 212
  9. Mar 14, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 212
  10. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  11. Apr 2, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0785h 04/02/2025 (Vote 14-11; RC) HC 19 P. 16
  12. Apr 3, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. Apr 10, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0785h: AF RC 36-337 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 36
  14. Apr 10, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 211-161 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 39
  15. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  16. Apr 29, 2025SenHearing: 04/29/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 19
  17. May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025, Vote 3-2; SC 21A
  18. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: RC 15Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  19. May 15, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/15/2025); SJ 14
  20. May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 62
  21. May 22, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/22/2025; Chapter 39; eff. 01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.