This bill establishes a new civics graduation requirement for undergraduate students in the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) and the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), effective July 1, 2027. To graduate, students must either pass the 128-question 2020 version of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test with a score of 70 or better, or successfully complete a civics course covering fundamental American documents, or pass a competency test related to that course. Institutions are tasked with creating procedures for administering and recording these assessments, while exemptions are provided for exchange students, foreign nationals, military personnel on active duty, and certain veterans.

The bill introduces new sections to RSA 187-A and RSA 188-F, specifically sections 187-A:16-d and 188-F:6-b, which outline these requirements. It also includes the insertion of the word "degree" in RSA 188-F:6-b, I, clarifying that the requirement applies only to students in academic degree programs. The implementation of this requirement is expected to incur significant costs for both USNH and CCSNH, with estimates ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 annually, potentially affecting tuition and financial aid. Additionally, the increased administrative workload for registrars and IT staff at CCSNH is anticipated to lead to further costs, although the exact fiscal impact remains indeterminable.