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HB 1606 · 2026 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Ban on Chinese nationals owning property

AI-generated

regulating real property ownership by Chinese nationals and providing for civil, criminal, and administrative penalties.

Restricts the acquisition of ownership or controlling interests in New Hampshire real property by Chinese (PRC) nationals and establishes civil, criminal, and administrative penalties for violations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill restricts PRC nationals from acquiring ownership or controlling interests in real property in New Hampshire.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"PRC national" (PRC) means any citizen or agent of the People's Republic of China who is not a U.S. citizen, including but not limited to those with direct, compromising ties such as employment by PRC state-owned enterprises, membership in the Chinese Communist Party, financial links to the PRC government, pledged allegiance to PRC leaders, or acting on orders originating from the PRC government.”
RSA 477:22-h
“No PRC national, as defined in RSA 477:22-h, I, shall acquire or maintain a controlling interest in real property in New Hampshire.”
RSA 477:22-i
“Upon a judicial or administrative finding that a PRC national engaged in prohibited conduct under RSA 477:22-i, a civil penalty of 25 percent of the greater of the fair market value or actual price paid for the property per violation shall be assessed.”
RSA 477:22-j
“The attorney general's office may refer a violation of this section for prosecution to the county attorney's office in the county in which the subject property is located.”
RSA 477:22-k

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike BelcherRPrime
  • Rep. Shane SiroisRClerk· Legislative Administration

Also: Rep. Kristine PerezR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Paul TerryR, Rep. John SellersR

Public testimony

4 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Testimony on HB 1606: Regulating Real Property Ownership by Chinese Nationals I stand in strong opposition to HB 1606, as it embodies deeply racist and xenophobic underpinnings that not only target specific nationalities but also undermine the foundational principles of equality and justice enshrined in our Constitution.…”
— georgina Lambert, Belmontopposes

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
  • Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 1 P. 28
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 02:30 pm GP 229
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 01/22/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
  5. Feb 4, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 7 P. 5
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 7

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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