HB 1124 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2382
06/07
HOUSE BILL 1124
AN ACT relative to the right to compute.
SPONSORS: Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. Corcoran, Hills. 28; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Rep. Sheehan, Hills. 43
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes the right to compute act.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2382
06/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the right to compute.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Chapter; Right to Compute Act. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 507-I the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 507-J
RIGHT TO COMPUTE ACT
507-J:1 Short Title; Purpose.
I. This chapter may be cited as the “Right to Compute Act.”
II. The general court finds that the rights to acquire, possess, and protect property under part I, article 2 and article 12-a; the rights to free expression under part I, articles 22 and 30; and the right to privacy under part I, article 2-b of the New Hampshire constitution, also embody a fundamental right to own and make use of technological tools, including computational resources. Any restriction placed by a government entity on the ability to privately own or make use of computational resources for lawful purposes shall be limited to those demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to fulfill a compelling government interest.
507-J:2 Right to Compute.
I. No government entity shall restrict the ability to privately own or make use of computational resources for lawful purposes, or otherwise infringe upon a person’s rights to property, free expression, or privacy regarding such resources, except as demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to fulfill a compelling government interest.
II. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preempt applicable federal law.
507-J:3 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. “Compelling government interest” means a government interest of the highest order in protecting the public that cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. Such interest includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Ensuring that a critical infrastructure facility controlled by an artificial intelligence system develops a risk management policy.
(b) Addressing conduct that deceives or defrauds the public.
(c) Protecting individuals, especially minors, from harm by a person who distributes deepfakes or other harmful synthetic content with actual knowledge of the nature of that material.
(d) Taking actions to prevent or abate common law nuisances created by physical datacenter infrastructure.
II. “Computational resources” means any tool, technology, system, or infrastructure, whether digital, analog, existing, or otherwise, that facilitates computation, data processing, storage, transmission, manipulation, control, creation, dissemination, or use of information and data. This includes, but is not limited to, hardware, software, networks, protocols, platforms, services, systems, cryptography, algorithms, sensors, machine learning, and quantum applications.
III. “Government action” means any law, ordinance, regulation, rule, policy, condition, test, permit, or administrative practice enacted by a government entity that restricts the common or intended use of computational resources by their owner or invitees.
IV. “Government entity” means the state or any county, city, town, political subdivision, branch, department, division, office, or entity of state or local government.
507-J:4 Severability. If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. The provisions of this chapter shall be severable.
507-J:5 Preservation of Intellectual Property. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter, diminish, or interfere with the rights and remedies available under federal or state intellectual property laws, including but not limited to patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret laws.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 29, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 22, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 10:30 am GP 229
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs