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HB1561 Prohibiting nationals of the People's Republic of China from enrollment in masters and doctorate degree programs, participation in research, and full time employment at public institutions of higher education.

Education Dead Auto-scored

Prohibiting nationals of the People's Republic of China from enrollment in masters and doctorate degree programs, participation in research, and full time employment at public institutions of higher education.

Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?

2

Overall Impact Score

Harmful

Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)

2
💰

Your Wallet

Would have devastated NH public university revenue from international students, research grants requiring international collaboration, and STEM programs that depend on international talent.

2
🏘️

Your Community

Discriminates against individuals based on national origin, undermines academic excellence, and would damage NH universities' reputation and competitiveness.

1
⚖️

Your Freedom

Blatant discrimination based on national origin violates fundamental equal protection principles and academic freedom.

Status

Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted DV 186-145 03/11/2026 House Journal 7

Voted Yes

0 R

Voted No

0 R

R Yes D Yes R No D No

Sponsor

Mike Belcher (R)

The Short Version

Would have banned Chinese nationals from graduate programs, research, and employment at NH public universities. Killed on a division vote (157-173). This discriminatory proposal would have harmed UNH's academic programs and violated equal protection principles.

Who's Behind This Bill?

Who Benefits

  • ▲ Those concerned about Chinese government espionage in academia

Who Pays the Price

  • ▼ Chinese graduate students and researchers in NH
  • ▼ NH public universities losing students and revenue
  • ▼ Research programs dependent on international collaboration
  • ▼ NH's reputation as a welcoming state

Roll Call Detail (1 vote)

Every recorded floor vote on this bill, with each legislator's individual vote. Click a name to see that rep's full record.

Who actually supports this bill?

Across the 1 recorded vote on this bill — counting each legislator's net direction and treating kill motions as opposing the bill — Republicans supported it ( 157 for , 25 against ) , and Democrats opposed it ( 148 against ) .

"Supporting" means voting for passage OR voting against a kill motion. "Opposing" is the inverse. Concurs and amendment-only votes don't count.

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-03-11
Failed

YES = Pass the bill with the attached amendment. NO = Reject the bill (as amended).

157R
Voted to Pass (157)
25R + 148D
Voted Against (173)
34
Absent
28
Not voting
Show all 392 individual votes

Voted Yea (157)

Republicans (157)

Voted Nay (173)

Republicans (25)
Democrats (148)
Absent (34)

Catherine Sofikitis (D) , Charlie St. Clair (D) , Cindy Bennett (R) , Dale Girard (D) , Dale Swanson (D) , David Love (R) , David Lundgren (R) , Denise DeDe-Poulin (R) , Dick Thackston (R) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Geoff Smith (D) , Gregory Sargent (D) , Jaci Grote (D) , James Gruber (D) , Jay Markell (R) , Jeanine Notter (R) , Jennifer Rhodes (R) , John Janigian (R) , Jonathan Smith (R) , Jose Cambrils (R) , Marc Plamondon (D) , Mark Warden (R) , Mary Ford (R) , Matthew Hicks (D) , Molly Howard (D) , Myles England (D) , Patricia Cornell (D) , Peggy Balboni (D) , Peter Lovett (D) , Peter Varney (R) , Ron Dunn (R) , Thomas Buco (D) , Tim Mannion (R) , Tom Dolan (R)

Read the Actual Bill → See All Bills

Bill statuses as of May 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.

This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.