SB 82 creates "Housing Opportunity Zones" in New Hampshire counties and municipalities to encourage affordable workforce housing development. It requires owner-occupancy (no rental by investors), mandates specific design features like slab foundations and front porches, and exempts the first property transfer from real estate transfer taxes. The bill proposes $20 million in state grants for infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) with limits of $1 million per municipality and $5 million per county, though no funding source is identified. It directly affects local governments that establish these zones and future homeowners who must live in the properties they purchase.
This bill establishes the New Hampshire Third-Party Litigation Funding Transparency Act to regulate companies that provide funding for consumer lawsuits. It requires these funding companies to register with the state, provide clear disclosures in contracts (including a 10-day right to cancel without penalty), and limit charges to 36% annually. The bill prohibits practices like paying referral fees to attorneys and restricts funding companies from influencing legal decisions or settlement choices. It also requires disclosure of funding arrangements to other parties in legal claims and sets out registration requirements and penalties for violations. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.
SB 187 adopts the dentist and dental hygienist compact, allowing dentists and dental hygienists licensed in New Hampshire to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The compact establishes a "compact privilege" requiring professionals to maintain an active license in their home state, pass national exams, and meet clinical assessment requirements. It creates a commission to oversee the compact, share licensure and disciplinary information among participating states, and provides special provisions for active military members and their spouses. This bill directly affects dentists, dental hygienists, and state licensing authorities, improving public access to dental services across state lines while maintaining regulatory standards.
SB 183 increases the Pease Development Authority board of directors from 7 to 9 members by adding direct representation for the towns of Hampton and Rye. Specifically, it requires the board of selectmen in Hampton to appoint one director and the board of selectmen in Rye to appoint another director. The bill also adjusts voting rules, raising the quorum from 4 to 5 members and the votes needed for most board actions from 4 to 5, while requiring 6 votes for land use controls (up from 5). These changes take effect on April 30, 2026.
HB 209 delays the first required vehicle safety inspection for new cars purchased from licensed dealers in New Hampshire. It exempts new vehicles (bought in the model year or before) from inspection for the first year after purchase, allowing owners to wait until the second year. This applies to both individual buyers and corporations as the first owner. The change takes effect January 1, 2026, and modifies existing inspection requirements under RSA 266:1.
SB 155 allows municipalities, counties, and non-profit organizations to use toll credits as their local funding match for federally funded highway and road projects, including the Nashua-Manchester-Concord project. This eliminates the need for legislative approval for these specific projects, as long as federal rules permit toll credits. For other uses of toll credits, the bill requires prior approval from the joint legislative capital project committee. The fiscal note estimates this change would reduce annual toll credit balances by approximately $20 million, as toll credits would replace local matching funds previously required for projects.
HB 563 adjusts New Hampshire's education funding for students receiving special education services by introducing three new funding categories based on the intensity of support needed. It increases grants by $2,185 for students receiving services 80% or more of the day (Category B), $3,278 for those needing 80% or more specialized support (Category B), and $7,648 for students in separate schools or homebound settings (Category C). The bill directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and Education Freedom Accounts, with an estimated $7.1 million increase in state funding for districts in fiscal year 2026. This change takes effect July 1, 2025, and replaces the previous special education funding structure with these tiered amounts.
HB 519 appropriates $500,000 annually from the General Fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the Waypoint youth and young adult shelter's operations, programs, and projects. This funding directly supports the shelter’s services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to use these funds starting July 1, 2025, with no additional policy changes beyond the financial allocation. It is a straightforward funding measure with no legislative policy shifts.
HB 97 appropriates $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services. This funding supports approved wastewater infrastructure projects under state law, directly benefiting local wastewater systems and communities requiring upgrades. The money is nonlapsing, meaning unused funds carry over to future years, and must be used for projects approved by June 30, 2026. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, with no new state positions created.
HB 465 amends New Hampshire's housing opportunity zone program to add income verification requirements for properties in these zones. It requires municipalities to establish how often property owners must verify tenant income (at move-in and no more than annually), with a special exception for accessory dwelling units priced affordably for households earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMLI). The bill also ensures tenants who initially qualified but later lost income eligibility can renew their lease for at least one year. This directly affects cities/towns establishing housing zones, property owners, and low-income renters in those zones. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.
HB 171 establishes an immediate moratorium on the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issuing permits for new landfill facilities. This directly affects developers and companies seeking to construct new landfills, halting all new permit applications and evaluations. The bill exempts expansions or modifications to existing landfills that were fully permitted by December 1, 2022. The moratorium remains in effect until new regulations, data, or policies are developed, with a repeal clause set for July 1, 2030.
HB 313 requires public meetings to remain open when discussion would likely harm a person's reputation, directly affecting attendees whose reputations might be impacted by public debate. The bill amends New Hampshire law (RSA 91-A:3(c)) to guarantee that any person with a right to attend such a meeting can request the session stay public, and the request must be granted. This applies to matters like discussions about individuals or applications for assistance based on poverty, ensuring transparency in these specific cases. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
