In one paragraph
New Hampshire's HB 1725 (2026) would have created RSA chapter 359-V, "Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance": a 7-member AI council, AI interaction disclosures, bans on AI developed with intent to unlawfully discriminate or for social scoring, limits on government biometric identification, a regulatory sandbox, and attorney general enforcement with civil penalties. The House voted it Inexpedient to Legislate on February 19, 2026, and it died.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill died and never became law. It would have imposed AI disclosure and anti-discrimination duties on covered persons, enforced by the attorney general with penalties up to $200,000 per violation.
Key provisions
- Would apply to any person, business or governmental entity conducting business in New Hampshire, offering products or services to state residents, or developing or deploying AI systems in the state, and would preempt local rules on AI use
- Would establish a 7-member New Hampshire artificial intelligence council attached to the Department of Information Technology, reporting annually to the governor and legislature
- State agencies and covered persons would have to clearly disclose to consumers when they interact with an AI system (in emergencies in health care, as soon as practicable)
- Would prohibit developing or deploying AI with intent to unlawfully discriminate (disparate impact alone insufficient) or for social scoring, manipulation aimed at self-harm or criminal acts, or infringing constitutional rights
- Governmental entities could not deploy AI to uniquely identify individuals using biometric identifiers or to collect biometric data from publicly available sources without valid consent, unless otherwise permitted for security, law enforcement or fraud prevention
- Would create a regulatory sandbox of up to 36 months; the attorney general would have exclusive enforcement with a 60-day cure period, civil penalties up to $200,000 per violation and $40,000 per day for continuing violations, and no private right of action
- Would have taken effect January 1, 2027; House committee voted Inexpedient to Legislate 16-0 and the House adopted it February 19, 2026
Latest legislative action
Feb 19, 2026. Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 (HJ 5, P. 7)
Sponsors
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Patrick Long | Primary |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error