The New Hampshire Senate Commerce Committee has voted 4–2 to refer House Bill 639 for interim study, following two tie votes on advancing or rejecting the measure. This bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Keith Ammon, aims to deregulate cryptocurrency mining by prohibiting local governments from imposing specific restrictions, such as noise-prohibition zoning, and preventing state and local authorities from levying unique taxes on digital money transactions.
Lawmakers reported an unprecedented level of public engagement since the bill was last debated in the spring, with senators like Tara Reardon noting it generated the most emails she had ever received for a single bill. The legislation also affirms the right to mine digital assets and calls for establishing a dedicated blockchain conflict docket in the state's superior court to handle crypto-related disputes.
During the committee's October 30 meeting, Senator Denise Ricciardi highlighted concerns, citing Arkansas as an example where mining regulations were strengthened after community complaints over noise and environmental issues. Senator Keith Murphy, a bill supporter, argued it would signal New Hampshire's readiness to embrace the digital asset sector. The bill aligns with a model policy from the Satoshi Action Group, which has advanced similar laws in other states.
Background information reveals that while crypto mining faces criticism for energy use, the industry's environmental profile is improving. A report from the MiCA Crypto Alliance and Nodiens shows coal's share in Bitcoin mining dropped from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024, with renewable energy reliance increasing by 5.8% annually. Contrastingly, New York Senator Liz Krueger proposed a tiered tax on electricity for miners, exempting those using under 2.25 million kWh annually and charging 2 cents per kWh for higher usage.
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