By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on February 23, 2022, I have vetoed House Bill 319, requiring students in the University and Community College System of New Hampshire to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services civics naturalization test.
We all can agree that an education in civics is fundamental to our students. Last year I signed House Bill 320, which implements a similar civics competency exam for high school students. That requirement goes into effect in 2023 and will help continue the Granite State tradition of a citizenry actively engaged in self-government. As such, House Bill 319 would serve to address the lack of civics education only in out-of-state public post-secondary students.
House Bill 319 would also represent the first time the legislature has imposed a universal graduation requirement for students at our public colleges and universities. I am concerned that this would create a precedent for future legislatures to mandate extreme requirements.
There is no lesson more important than understanding our individual responsibility to uphold democracy. Nevertheless, I believe the legislature’s passage of House Bill 320 already addresses the important concerns of an engaged citizenry and an understanding of the fundamentals of democracy without some of the challenges House Bill 319 may unintentionally create.
For the reasons stated above, I have vetoed House Bill 319.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher T. Sununu
Governor