Keith Ammon
{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = KeithAmmon2016.png
| caption = Ammon in 2016
| imagesize =
| name=Keith Ammon
| predecessor = Kat McGhee
| state_house=New Hampshire
| state=New Hampshire
| district=Hillsborough 40th
| term_start = December 2, 2020
| term_start1= December 3, 2014
| term_end1=December 5, 2018
| predecessor1= Gary Daniels
| successor1= Kat McGhee
| party= Republican
| birth_date=
| birth_place= Philadelphia suburbs
| death_date=
| death_place=
| alma_mater=
| profession= Politician
| spouse = Susan
| residence = New Boston, New Hampshire
| religion=
|}}
Keith Ammon is an American politician. He is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing the Hillsborough 40th District from 2014 to 2018 and re-elected in 2020.
Political career
Ammon served on the New Boston School Board from 2012 to 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/member.aspx?member=377204|title=Representative Keith Ammon|publisher=NH House of Representatives|access-date=2025-03-09}}
In 2014, he won the District 40 seat in the State House over Democrat Henry Mullaney.{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Keith_Ammon|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=2022-07-07|title=Keith Ammon}} Ammon was re-elected in 2016 against Democrat Kat McGhee. In 2018, he lost the seat to Kat McGhee.{{cite journal|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2018/09/07/hollis-republican-state-house-candidates-debate-issues|title=Hollis Republican State House candidates debate issues|journal=Nashua Telegraph|access-date=2019-03-26}} In 2020, Ammon beat Democrat Ben Ming to again serve District 40.
In the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Ammon serves on the Commerce and Consumer Affairs committee. He is currently the House Majority Floor Leader. 2021–2022 he was Assistant Majority Whip.
Ammon is a member of the NH House Freedom Caucus.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUz06FevcfA "NH Freedom Caucus members discuss budget impasse"] WMUR-TV. Retrieved 2019-03-27. Ammon is the organizer of the N.H. Emerging Technology Caucus,{{Cite news | first1 = Keith | last1 = Ammon | first2 = Stephen | last2 = Cobb | title = Rep. Keith Ammon & Stephen Cobb: Why we need a right to compute | url = https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/rep-keith-ammon-stephen-cobb-why-we-need-a-right-to-compute/article_2800fcde-f2c7-11ef-9793-93287b6c8c8b.html | work = New Hampshire Union Leader | publisher = Brendan J. McQuaid | date = 2025-02-28 | access-date = 2025-03-09 | quote = Rep. Keith Ammon... is the organizer of the N.H. Emerging Technology Caucus}} "a bipartisan, bicameral caucus guided by a philosophy of Techno-Optimism, [championing] progress and innovation while advocating for thoughtful governance that maximizes societal and economic benefits."{{cite web|url=https://emergingtechnh.org/#mission | title=New Hampshire Emerging Technology Caucus|publisher=New Hampshire Emerging Technology Caucus|access-date=2025-03-09}} He also serves as director of the New Boston Republican Committee and the New Boston Taxpayers' Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.ammon4nh.com/|title=Keith Ammon 4NH}}
Political activity
=Technology bills=
==Blockchain==
In January 2016, he cosponsored a bill that would have allowed the state government to accept payment of taxes and fees in bitcoin.[https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2018/04/06/tiny-towns-small-states-bet-on-bitcoin-even-as-some-shun-its-miners "Tiny Towns, Small States Bet on Bitcoin Even as Some Shun Its Miners"] The PEW Charitable Trusts. Retrieved 2019-03-26. It was defeated in committee.{{cite web|url=https://trackbill.com/bill/new-hampshire-house-bill-552-requiring-the-state-treasurer-to-develop-an-implementation-plan-for-the-state-to-accept-bitcoin-as-payment-for-taxes-and-fees/1220506/|title=HB552|publisher=TrackBill|access-date=2022-07-07}}
In 2023, Ammon sponsored bill HB645 establishing regulations and the legal framework and operational guidelines for decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).[https://legiscan.com/NH/text/HB645/id/2918735 "NH HB645: Relative to the establishment of decentralized autonomous organizations as legal entities within the state."]. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
==Privacy==
In March 2016, he introduced a bill allowing public libraries to run privacy software.{{cite web |url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billText.aspx?id=796&txtFormat=html |title=House Bill 1508: An Act allowing public libraries to run certain privacy software |date=10 March 2016 |website=New Hampshire State Government |accessdate=4 June 2016}} The bill was written with input from the Library Freedom Project.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/new-hampshire-tor-library-legislation/ |title=New Hampshire bill allows for libraries' usage of encryption and privacy software |first=Patrick Howell |last=O'Neill |date=2019-03-27 |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=10 March 2016}}
==Flying cars==
In 2020, while out of office, Ammon provided Representative Steven D. Smith with the technical requirements for a bill to create a legal framework for "flying cars" to drive on New Hampshire's roadways.{{cite news|journal=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/07/31/registering-your-flying-car-in-new-hampshire-is-easy-thanks-to-the-jetson-bill/|title=Registering Your Flying Car In New Hampshire Is Easy Thanks To The 'Jetson Bill'|access-date=2024-12-18|last=Tegler|first=Eric|date=2022-07-31}} When Governor Chris Sununu signed HB1182 into law on 24 July 2020, New Hampshire became the first state in the nation to enact a "Jetsons Law".{{cite news|journal=General Aviation News|url=https://generalaviationnews.com/2020/08/22/new-hampshire-passes-jetsons-law/|title=New Hampshire passes Jetsons law|access-date=2024-12-18|date=2020-08-22}}
==Nuclear power==
In 2022, Ammon sponsored bill HB543, signed into law, establishing a commission to study nuclear power and nuclear reactor technology in New Hampshire.{{cite news|journal=Secure the Grid |url=https://securethegrid.com/test-2-2/|title=New Hampshire can blaze the trail to plentiful carbon-free energy|access-date=2024-12-18|last=Waller|first=Tommy|date=2022-12-05}} The NH Nuclear Study Commission, which Ammon chaired, published interim reports and a final report in 2023. Among the report's conclusions were that "The demand for computation, particularly for large and growing computing projects like AI modeling and Bitcoin mining, is rising," and "Advanced nuclear technology is essential if the goal of zero net carbon emissions is to be pursued."[https://nuclearnh.energy/about/#reports "NH Nuclear Study Commission Reports"]. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
In 2024, Ammon sponsored bill HB1465, to promote investigation of nuclear power. As signed into law, the final bill required coordination with studies on wind energy, renaming the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development to the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation.
=Other bills=
==Abortion==
In 2022, Ammon voted against HB 1609 which added an exception for a fatal fetal diagnosis to New Hampshire's 24 week ban on abortion services.{{cite web|title=HB1609-FN|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=1193&inflect=2}}
==Education==
In 2021, the Washington Post reported that Ammon was spearheading an effort to ban critical race theory in New Hampshire.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/19/critical-race-theory-rufo-republicans/|date=2021-06-20|first1=LAURA|last1=MECKLER|first2=JOSH|last2=DAWSEY|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Republicans, spurred by an unlikely figure, see political promise in critical race theory}} Ammon's bill, as explained by The Atlantic, forbids schools from teaching “race or sex scapegoating,” questioning the value of meritocracy and suggesting that New Hampshire or the USA is “fundamentally racist.”{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/05/gops-critical-race-theory-fixation-explained/618828/|title=The GOP's 'Critical Race Theory' Obsession|first=Adam|last=Harris|website=The Atlantic |date=2021-05-07}} House Bill 544 was signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu in July 2021.{{cite news|journal=Seacoast Online|title='Divisive concepts' ban is NH law. Will it affect the way teachers do their jobs?|first=Alexander|last=LaCasse|date=2021-07-09|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2021/07/10/new-hampshire-education-divisive-concepts-ban-nh-law-affects-schools/7915398002/}}
Other information
File:PAL-V_Liberty_Flying_Car_Fullsize_SRGB_021.jpg
Keith Ammon runs Ammon Technology Services, a software company specializing in pharmaceutical sales.{{cite web|url=https://quickstart.sos.nh.gov/online/BusinessInquire/BusinessInformation?businessID=529963|title=New Hampshire Department of State|access-date=2022-07-09}}{{cite web|url=https://porcfest2016.sched.com/speaker/keithammon|title=PorcFest XIII|access-date=2022-07-09}}
Ammon moved to New Hampshire from Pennsylvania in 2009 as part of the Free State Project.{{cite news|journal=New Hampshire Public Radio|url=https://www.nhpr.org/post/you-asked-we-answered-what-free-state-project#stream/0|title=You Asked, We Answered: What Is the Free State Project?|access-date=2019-03-06|last=Quimby|first=Taylor|date=2018-04-12}}[https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeldelcastillo/2019/01/03/bitcoins-last-gunslinger/#4169d2a840bb "Bitcoin's Last Gunslinger"] Forbes. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
In 2016, Ammon was named to GOPAC's Class of Emerging Leaders.[https://www.gopac.org/2016/04/gopac-announces-2016-class-of-emerging-leaders/ "GOPAC announces 2016 Class of Emerging Leaders"] GOPAC. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
Ammon contributed to the Bretton Woods Summit of Consumer's Research in 2017 and 2018 as a local subject matter expert on regulation in cryptocurrency.[https://www.brettonwoodssummit.com/ "The Bretton Woods Experience"] Bretton Woods Summit. Retrieved 2019-03-12. In 2018, Ammon participated in a panel "Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Public Policy" at the Harvard Club of Boston, in connection with his sponsorship of bill HB436, exempting persons using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from registering as money transmitters.[https://www.hksne.org/events/2018/3/28/bitcoin "Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Public Policy"] HKS New England Alumni Association. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
Ammon is the founder and chairman of the New Hampshire Blockchain Council.[https://nhblockchaincouncil.org/member-bios/ "New Hampshire Blockchain Council Member Bios"]. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
In 2019–2020, while out of office, Ammon represented Dutch-owned flying-car maker PAL-V in New Hampshire.{{cite news|journal=Business NH Magazine |url=https://www.businessnhmagazine.com/article/nhamp39s-flying-car-laws|title=NH's Flying Car Laws|access-date=2024-12-18|last=Currie|first=Judi|date=2020-10-09}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.ammon4nh.com/}}
{{New Hampshire House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ammon, Keith}}
Category:Republican Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the New Hampshire General Court