As its Bitcoin reserve bill approaches legislative approval, New Hampshire is showing increasing acceptance of cryptocurrencies. With a 16-1 majority, the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee of the State voted unequivocally in support of House Bill 302, opening the path for a full House vote.
Should the measure be passed, the state treasurer would be empowered to allocate up to 5% of the general fund, revenue stabilization fund, or other approved reserves—into Bitcoin and precious metals including gold, silver, and platinum. Although the law does not specifically name Bitcoin, it limits investments to digital assets with at least $500 billion average market valuation over the past year, therefore rendering Bitcoin the sole current qualifying asset.
Republican Representative Keith Ammon first presented the measure; Democratic representatives Chris McAleer and Carry Spier co-sponsored the effort. Originally the plan called for a 10% allocation, but legislators eventually cut it to 5% before moving forward with the measure.
During the committee discussion, Ammon revealed that the measure no longer included stablecoins or staking options. Should the initiative become legislation, State Treasurer Monica Mezzapelle has also indicated possible interest in applying the investment structure.
New Hampshire joins an increasing number of states weighing Bitcoin as part of their budgetary plan. While Utah and Arizona have already advanced Bitcoin reserve bills, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas are waiting House votes on related measures.
State-level momentum aligns with more general national debates on bitcoin regulations. Former U.S. President Donald Trump just suggested a Crypto Strategic Reserve of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. This growth emphasizes even more the growing part cryptocurrencies play in national and state-level financial planning.
New Hampshire’s Bitcoin bill might establish a standard for other states wishing to include cryptocurrencies in their financial plans as more governments investigate digital resources as part of their reserves. Whether the state advances this project will depend on the forthcoming House vote.
