A vote in the Senate Commerce Committee regarding a bill to deregulate crypto mining in New Hampshire resulted in a split decision on Thursday. Senators noted a significant increase in public feedback on the bill since its previous discussion.
After being deadlocked twice, first on advancing the bill and then on rejecting it, the committee ultimately voted 4–2 to send the measure for further review during an interim study period. This development was initially reported by the New Hampshire Bulletin.
House Bill 639, if enacted, would prevent municipalities from imposing restrictions on cryptocurrency mining, such as those related to electricity usage or noise. It would also prohibit state and local authorities from levying taxes specifically on digital assets.
The bill further aims to affirm the right of individuals and businesses to engage in cryptocurrency mining. Additionally, it proposes the establishment of a dedicated blockchain docket within the state’s superior court, where a governor-appointed judge would handle crypto-related disputes.
During the bill's initial vote in May, senators returned the measure to the committee for refinement of its language and to garner more support. The bill is sponsored by Republican Representative Keith Ammon and is anticipated to be presented to the full Senate in 2026.
On Thursday, Senator Tara Reardon of Concord informed the New Hampshire Bulletin that the proposal had generated the largest volume of emails she had ever received concerning a single bill.
Crypto Mining in the US
Cryptocurrency mining involves utilizing computing power to verify transactions and secure proof-of-work blockchains, such as Bitcoin. Miners are rewarded with newly created coins for their efforts.
While the industry has faced criticism for its substantial energy consumption and environmental impact, it has seen considerable advancements since its early stages.
A recent report from the MiCA Crypto Alliance and the data firm Nodiens indicated a decline in coal's contribution to Bitcoin mining, falling from 63% in 2011 to 20% in 2024. Concurrently, the use of renewable energy sources in mining has steadily increased, growing by an average of 5.8% annually over the same period.
Despite these trends, some U.S. states are exploring measures to offset the energy demands of mining. On October 2, New York State Senator Liz Krueger introduced a bill proposing a tiered excise tax on energy consumed by crypto mining operations.
This proposed measure would exempt miners using up to 2.25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually. Operations consuming between 2.26 million and 5 million kWh would be subject to a tax of 2 cents per kWh.