A legislative proposal in New Hampshire that would have carved out significant portions of technology-related work from the state’s definition of engineering has been stopped—for now. House Bill 435 sought to exclude services in IT, information security, electronics, digital systems, and computing from being classified as engineering, raising serious concerns about regulatory gaps and public safety.

The New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-NH), with support from NSPE and the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Hampshire (ACEC-NH) led the response. NSPE-NH President Chuck Gregory, P.E., submitted a formal letter of opposition to the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee, underscoring the risks of broadly exempting fields already recognized within licensure pathways by ABET and NCEES. The letter warned that the exclusions would allow unlicensed individuals to perform work currently covered by engineering licensure standards, especially in fields with public safety implications. 

The response emphasized that these disciplines are not separate from engineering—they are increasingly central to it. From embedded systems in medical devices to critical infrastructure controls, the future of engineering relies on a professional framework that adapts to evolving technology without sacrificing public protection. NCEES data backs this up: Electrical and Computer Engineering exams accounted for over 37% of all licensure exams in 2024, and Control Systems exam volume rose over 43% year-over-year.

NSPE-NH was not alone. ACEC-NH submitted opposition and joined in meetings and discussions with lawmakers, reinforcing a shared message: the bill was a solution in search of a problem, and could create new risks by excluding disciplines already recognized by ABET and NCEES. 

Though HB 435 passed the House on a voice vote, the Senate reached a different conclusion. On May 1, the Senate voted to reject the bill, effectively ending its progress for the session.

The outcome preserves a definition of engineering that reflects both current practice and future responsibility. NSPE-NH remains vigilant and ready to engage again, should efforts to weaken engineering oversight return in another form.