The bill’s prime sponsor, Representative Joe Alexander Jr., a Goffstown Republican who chairs the Housing Committee, said the bill is meant to serve as a deterrent.

“Illegal aliens are not welcome in the Granite State,” he said. “And by passing this bill, we will continue to make sure that there is nowhere they can live.”

He pointed to the state’s housing shortage and said people without legal status are taking apartments away from New Hampshire citizens.

The bill has five other Republican co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, in addition to two Republican co-sponsors in the Senate, indicating at least some degree of support in the other chamber.

During a hearing at the State House on Tuesday, Democratic members of the House’s Housing Committee questioned Alexander on whether the bill would survive legal challenges. They raised concerns the bill could result in discriminatory housing practices, and that it could leave minors in a mixed-status family unable to access housing.

“We’re essentially saying that there is no housing that is available to that child, who is a Granite Stater, who is an American citizen,” said Representative David Paige, a North Conway Democrat. “That’s unacceptable to me personally.”

“Is that your intent in this bill, and if not, is there a way that we can ensure that those kids can have access to safe and secure housing in our state?” he asked.

“My intent of this bill is, if you are in this country illegally, you are not welcome here, and you should not have housing,” Alexander responded.

The effort drew opposition from advocates of civil liberties and immigrant rights.

The ACLU of New Hampshire opposed the effort because of concerns around due process, the risk of discrimination, and the potential costs of expensive litigation under federal civil rights and fair housing laws.

“It will cause a litigation firestorm, and New Hampshire taxpayers will be left paying to defend a law that is hardly defendable and undermines constitutional protections, and destabilizes the housing market as well,” said Rachel Potter, a policy associate with the organization.

She warned that the bill could turn the housing market into an unconstitutional state-run immigration enforcement system.

At least one resident spoke in support of the proposal. Patrick Binder of Manchester called the proposal a good, workable deterrent.

“I think it’s a good direction for New Hampshire and for the citizens here,” he said.

Several organizations that work with immigrants also opposed the effort.

“We are a state that depends on immigration to grow and even maintain our population and workforce,” said William Gillett, director of public policy and advocacy at the International Institute of New England, an organization that supports immigrants and refugees who came through legal pathways in New Hampshire.

While this bill is aimed at illegal immigrants, Gillett said it would have a chilling effect against all immigrants, including those with a legal status. He said it would make it harder for all immigrants to enter the rental market and suppress legal and needed immigration in the state.

Dylan Hoey, director of the New Hampshire Alliance of Immigrants and Refugees, called the Class B felony language “extremely punitive and concerning.”

Hoey, who previously served as a US Foreign Service officer at the Department of State, said calculating unlawful presence is an extremely difficult task.

“In my view, HB 1709 effectively delegates federal immigration law enforcement to New Hampshire landlords,” he said, adding this would place landlords in a legally precarious position of screening people based on national origin and immigration status.

New Hampshire law authorizes imprisonment of more than a year for a Class B felony and no more than a 7-year prison term.

The bill has a long road before it has a chance at becoming law. It would need to gain approval from both the House and the Senate before landing on the governor’s desk.

Amanda Gokee can be reached at amanda.gokee@globe.com. Follow her @amanda_gokee.

A proposal in the New Hampshire Legislature to charge a $50 annual registration fee for bicyclists in order to use state-owned paths, trails and roadways is proving so unpopular that even the bill’s sponsor is backpedaling. 

“All bicycles and electric bicycles, if operated on a public way shall be registered with the division of motor vehicles,” the bill states. It says any bike riders who are not registered could face a fine of $100 per violation.

On the New Hampshire House of Representatives website, nearly 14,000 people have registered their opposition to the measure. Just 39 support it, as of Tuesday evening.

Republican Rep. Tom Walsh from Hooksett, who sponsored the bill, testified Tuesday before the House Transportation Committee.

“I don’t see the bill moving forward,” Walsh said, adding that the $50 amount was supposed to be a “placeholder” until it could be determined what a reasonable fee would be.

Walsh said he brought the “flawed” bill to committee because he wanted to start a conversation about paying for bike infrastructure as lawmakers consider toll hikes and other fee increases for car owners. He noted that ATV and snowmobile owners have to pay a fee to operate their vehicles on state trails.

“This was a genuine attempt at fair funding,” Walsh said. “I still believe that user fees are the best way to do that. If you want to use nice things, help us pay for these nice things.”  

Democratic Rep. Timothy Horgan of Durham called the bill an “extremely bad idea” and said rail trails are used heavily by pedestrians as well.

“Are we going to start handing out stickers on our walking shoes to use the rail trails?” he asked. “Where does this end?”

During public comment, Donna Cusack from Hudson called it a “horrible, horrible bill.” 

“If I have to pay a fee to ride on a rail trail, I’ll put my bike on the back of my car and drive 5 miles across the border and I’ll start driving on the Massachusetts rail trails where I don’t have to pay a fee,” she said.

Craig Rennie, the chief supervisor of the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails who did not take a position on the bill, said there are 320 miles of state-owned rail trails. He said their maintenance is funded with registration fees for snowmobiles and ATVs, as well as some federal grants and donations.

“If we had more funding for rail trail management, that would help with developing future trails,” he said.

CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, called the shooting death Saturday of Alex Pretti by an ICE agent in Minneapolis a “tragic murder” as pressure mounts against the federal actions in Minneapolis.

“The brutal murder of Alex Pretti by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, just days after the brutal murder of Renee Good, is the latest example of an unaccountable federal agency using rapidly escalating and unjustified force to terrorize our communities. No one should fear being shot in the street by masked officers – anytime, anywhere,” Simpson said in a statement Monday.

Also on Monday evening, an estimated 90 people marched in a “Candlelight Procession for Alex Jeffrey Pretti and all ICE victims,” in Conway organized by the Mount Washington Valley Resistance.

Simpson said “bills now making their way through the state legislature require clear identification of state and local law enforcement officers participating in immigration enforcement activities and prohibit state resources from being used to construct ICE facilities or enable ICE’s abuses.

“These bills are simple – they demand transparency, accountability, and respect for our neighbors and communities. Granite Staters do not want masked federal agents roaming our streets. They want to feel safe in their neighborhoods, to know their tax dollars are being used appropriately, and to live under laws that reflect our ‘live free or die’ values,” she said.

“It is past time for Governor Ayotte and Republicans in Concord to put New Hampshire first, stop sitting on the sidelines, and stand with Granite Staters demanding accountability,” Simpson said.

The following bills in New Hampshire deal with immigration enforcement.

HB 1142, relative to requirements for law enforcement officers assisting in immigration enforcement. HEARING: Wednesday 1/28 at 3:30 pm in House Criminal Justice.

HB 1364, requiring quarterly reports from counties, municipalities, or any other political subdivisions of the state that enter into certain agreements with the federal government concerning assistance with federal immigration enforcement. HEARING:  Friday, 1/30 at 11:30am in House Criminal Justice.

HB 1570, relative to governmental budget authority for agreements for law enforcement agencies to participate in federal immigration enforcement. Pending a vote on floor of House.

HB 1822, relative to reporting of civil immigration detentions by state, county, and local law enforcement and correctional facilities. Pending a vote on floor of House.

HB 1609, limiting the use of state, county, and municipal funds and property for construction and operation of certain immigrant detention facilities. Pending a vote on floor of House.

The Guardian newspaper reported Monday: “President says his administration is reviewing fatal shooting as Republicans and Democrats criticize ICE surge.”

And Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on Facebook Monday that he “had a productive call with President Trump earlier today. I told him we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota.

“The President agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and to talk to DHS about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case,” Walz said.