YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The New Hampshire Bitcoin bill, House Bill 302, passed the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee in a 16-1 vote on March 5, sending it to the House for a full vote. The bill allows the New Hampshire treasurer to invest up to 5% of the general fund, revenue stabilization fund, or other authorized funds into Bitcoin and other qualifying assets.
According to Bitcoin Laws, the New Hampshire Bitcoin bill is one of seven active Bitcoin-related bills in the U.S. awaiting House votes. Other states, including North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas, have similar Bitcoin bills under review, while Utah and Arizona have already passed such measures.
Bitcoin Meets Exclusive Eligibility Requirements
The New Hampshire Bitcoin bill does not specifically name Bitcoin but limits investments to digital assets that have maintained an average $500 billion market cap over the last calendar year. Currently, Bitcoin is the only digital asset that meets this requirement.
Under the bill, any digital asset investment must be held by a qualified custodian or in an exchange-traded product (ETP). The bill also allows the New Hampshire treasurer to invest in gold, silver, and platinum, in addition to Bitcoin.
Bill Amendments Remove Stablecoins and Staking
House Bill 302, introduced by Republican Keith Ammon on Jan. 10, received bipartisan support from Democrats Chris McAleer and Carry Spier. During the March 5 committee session, Ammon confirmed that amendments were made to remove provisions allowing stablecoins and staking.
New Hampshire Treasurer Monica Mezzapelle expressed interest in investing in assets covered under the bill if it passes. The bill initially allowed her to allocate 10% of funds, but lawmakers reduced it to 5% before the committee vote.
New Hampshire Joins Other States in Bitcoin Legislation
The New Hampshire Bitcoin bill is part of a broader trend among U.S. states considering Bitcoin investments. Along with North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas, New Hampshire is awaiting a House vote. Meanwhile, one Utah bill and two Arizona bills have already passed.
This state-level movement follows former President Donald Trump’s announcement on March 2 about creating a Crypto Strategic Reserve, which would include Bitcoin, Ether, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. However, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated on March 5 that the reserve would likely be made up almost entirely of Bitcoin.
Tracking Bitcoin Bills at the State Level
According to Bitcoin Laws, the New Hampshire Bitcoin bill is one of seven active Bitcoin bills progressing through U.S. state legislatures. The growing interest in Bitcoin legislation reflects state-level efforts to explore Bitcoin investment as part of broader financial strategies.
