This bill mandates that all students admitted to or transferring into the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) and the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) on or after January 1, 2026, must pass the 2020 version of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test as a graduation requirement. Specifically, students must achieve a score of 70 or better on the 128-question test. Institutions within both systems are required to establish procedures for administering, certifying, and recording the results of this assessment. Notably, exchange students and foreign nationals are exempt from this requirement. The new legal language is inserted into RSA 187-A and RSA 188-F, creating sections 187-A:16-d and 188-F:6-b, respectively.

The bill does not allocate any funding for its implementation, and the estimated fiscal impact on both the USNH and CCSNH is projected to be between $100,000 and $500,000 annually for each system. This includes costs associated with testing platform procurement, administrative oversight, and potential staffing needs to ensure compliance and support for students. The bill's effective date is set for January 1, 2026, and it aims to enhance civic knowledge among graduates while potentially impacting graduation rates if students struggle to meet the testing requirement.