SB 559 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.

SB 559 lowers the minimum speed limit on locally controlled roads from 25 mph to 20 mph in certain areas, including outside urban districts and within business or urban residential zones. Local authorities must base any speed limit reduction on engineering or traffic studies before implementing it. The bill does not require new funding or change existing enforcement, as it only modifies the minimum limit threshold in state law. This affects municipalities and town officials responsible for setting speed limits on local roads.
Bill status failed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Governor
Introduced Nov 24, 2025 Last action Apr 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced As Amended by the Senate · 1 edit
MINOR
The Senate amendment adds a new definitions paragraph to RSA 265:63 that clarifies what 'urban residence district' and 'business district' mean by cross-referencing existing statutes (RSA 259:118 and RSA 259:8). The core policy change - lowering the minimum speed limit from 25 to 20 mph on locally controlled roads - remains unchanged. This addition provides legal clarity on which specific types of roads the new 20 mph floor applies to.
DEFINITION

A new paragraph VII was inserted into RSA 265:63 defining 'urban residence district' (same meaning as in RSA 259:118) and 'business district' (same meaning as in RSA 259:8). This clarifies the geographic scope of where the reduced 20 mph minimum speed limit applies.

Floor votes · House Apr 23, 2026

How they voted

11570
Passed · 38 other
Total votes 223
Apr 23, 2026
D Democratic108
25 Yea 69 Nay 14
63% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican113
89 Yea 1 Nay 23
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Apr 23, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (115-70-38)
house
Apr 15, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Committee
Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/14/2026 (Vote 11-4; RC)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 5 P. 124
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0343s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-0343s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0343s, 02/05/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 4
upper
Nov 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors