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HR 45 · 2026 · House · State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee

Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor boundary

AI-generated

urging Congress to find that the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor lie within the state of New Hampshire.

Urges Congress to find that the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor lie within the state of New Hampshire.AI-generated

Status

Adopted by both chambers · February 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Adopted

Analysis

This resolution urges Congress to find that the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor lie within the state of New Hampshire.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“That the general court asks the New Hampshire congressional delegation to introduce legislation and take such additional steps as may be necessary and appropriate to establish the location of the boundary between New Hampshire and Maine in the inner Piscataqua River”
From the bill

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joseph BartonRPrime
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Tom MannionRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Jennifer MandelbaumDClerk· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference

Also: Rep. Michael GrangerR, Rep. Jim KofaltR

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“On Page 46 of the Senator Bob Smith Report under the year "1784" it reads "The Frigate is referred to as the Ship "Raleigh" by act of the New Hampshire Legislature. The Ship Raleigh is officially part of the State Seal which is depicted on our State Flag.…”
— Joseph Barton, Littletonsupports
“As a citizen of New Hampshire and leader of New Hampshire First, a citizen advocacy group, I urge the committee to OTP this bill. No citizen of New Hampshire has ever empowered the state or the SCOTUS to cede NH territory to Maine.…”
— Patrick Binder, Manchestersupports
“Many of the arguments I would have made if I could attend today will most definitely come upon the hearing - so I’ll keep this short. It’s clear according to our maps, state seal, Raleigh ship, and legal history that NH owns the harbor and Badgers and Seavey islands.…”
— Isabella Peters, Amherstsupports

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 16, 2026Public hearingHouse State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs5:59:02–6:00:281m 26slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:55:52–6:00:214m 29slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0389h — adopted, roll call 205-129; FLAM # 2026-0389h (Rep. Barton) — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs HJ 1 P. 40
  2. Jan 16, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/16/2026 01:30 pm GP 228
  3. Jan 16, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/16/2026 02:00 pm GP 228
  4. Jan 16, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 01/16/2026 (Vote 8-6; RC) HC 5 P. 28
  5. Jan 22, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-0389h (Rep. Barton): AA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 57
  7. Feb 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0389h: MA RC 205-129 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 57

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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