SB 490 establishes a task force to study the feasibility of building housing on vacant property at Great Bay Community College within the Pease development area. The task force will examine military/student housing models, funding sources, operational plans, and resident needs, specifically for students, faculty, staff, and New Hampshire National Guard personnel. The bill authorizes the college to develop housing on this property, subject to coordination with state agencies. The task force must submit recommendations by December 30, 2026, to the governor and legislature.
HB 1079 allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be built within or attached to existing non-conforming structures, such as garages or older homes that don’t meet current zoning rules for setbacks or lot coverage. It directly affects homeowners with pre-July 1, 2025 structures and municipalities that must permit these conversions without requiring compliance with modern dimensional standards. Key provisions require local governments to allow ADUs in existing structures (including nonconforming ones) and define "existing structure" as built before July 2025. This bill amends New Hampshire law to remove barriers for adding small, secondary housing units in currently permitted structures.
SB 586 requires New Hampshire school districts and charter public schools to publish a detailed annual financial audit report by September 1 each year. The report must include receipts, expenditures, assets, liabilities, payroll details, and capital projects. Schools failing to submit the report by the deadline will have state funding withheld until compliance is achieved. This bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and amends existing law to standardize the submission deadline for all school entities.
SB 577 prohibits public schools in New Hampshire from using specific artificial color additives, such as FD&C Blue 1, Red 40, and Yellow 5, in school meals and competitive foods served to students. The ban applies to all public elementary and secondary schools and takes effect on January 1, 2028. Schools must adjust food procurement and preparation to avoid these additives, which are listed by the FDA in the bill. The legislation directly changes school food standards without mandating specific alternative foods or ingredients.
SB 492 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to lease or license property it owns, directly affecting the department and private entities renting that property. The bill requires lessees (unless tax-exempt) to pay local property taxes on the leased property, similar to private owners, and outlines penalties for nonpayment. It creates a dedicated "Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services Property Fund" to manage revenues from leases, which can be used for purchasing, maintaining, or operating department property and projects. The fund ensures these revenues are kept separate and can cover related expenses like property maintenance, administrative costs, or bond payments.
HB 1103 expands tax relief credits for municipalities by allowing them to apply community revitalization tax credits to more property types. Specifically, it enables tax credits for converting existing office, commercial, or industrial buildings to residential use, and for new residential construction meeting affordability standards. Properties must be located in designated housing opportunity or residential conversion zones, with tax relief lasting up to 11 years if workforce housing is created. This directly affects property owners and municipalities seeking to incentivize housing development in targeted areas. The bill amends New Hampshire’s tax code to broaden eligibility beyond current standards, effective April 1, 2027.
SB 523 establishes a registration and oversight system for residential builders in New Hampshire who are not already licensed professionals. It requires these builders (defined as individuals, partnerships, or LLCs working on residential properties with $5,000+ annual revenue) to register, complete 8 hours of approved safety and code training, and renew registration biennially. The bill creates a Board of Builder Registration within the Department of Labor, which will set rules, handle complaints, and oversee a nonprofit administrator (RPA) managing applications and education. This directly affects unlicensed residential construction businesses, adding registration requirements and oversight while excluding those already licensed under existing state law.
SB 660 creates a free voter identification card for individuals who need photo ID solely for voting purposes. It allows eligible voters to obtain a voucher from their town or city clerk, exempting them from the standard $20 fee for photo ID cards. The secretary of state will cover the cost of these cards using election funds, and the cards must be marked "for voter identification only." This directly affects voters who lack other acceptable photo ID but cannot afford standard ID cards, while maintaining the requirement for voter ID at polls.
HB 524 repeals the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA), a state program that collected funds from insurance companies to help cover the cost of childhood vaccines for privately-insured children under 19. After repeal, healthcare providers will directly purchase vaccines for these children and bill insurers directly, ending the state’s annual $24 million revenue stream from the NHVA. The state will also need to fund vaccines for public health emergencies (estimated at $150,000 in the first year), as it will no longer receive NHVA reimbursements for vaccine costs. Insurance companies, which previously saved about 30% on vaccine prices through the NHVA, may face higher costs and potential premium increases for families.
HB 113 designates two specific road segments in Windsor for off-highway recreational vehicle (OHRV) use: Windsor Road from the Hillsborough town line to Black Pond Road intersection, and Black Pond Road from Windsor Road to Miller Road. The bill directly affects OHRV operators traveling on these designated portions of town highways within Windsor. It adds these routes to the list of approved areas for OHRV operation under state law, with no additional regulatory changes or funding mechanisms. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.
HB 564 revises how school administrative units (SAUs) adopt budgets in New Hampshire, primarily affecting SAUs with multiple school districts. It repeals the previous "alternative budget procedure" and requires SAUs to place their budget warrant article first (after bond articles) at meetings, post mandatory voter reports 7 days prior, and apportion budgets based on student attendance and property value. For new services, SAUs must now secure approval from a majority of districts representing at least 60% of students. The bill also standardizes voting procedures, requiring separate ballot votes on SAU budgets at district meetings and preserving the previous year’s adjusted budget if the vote fails.
HB 297 allows self-funded employer health plans to access their own claims data from New Hampshire's health information system. Employers must opt-in in writing to authorize their health carrier or third-party administrator to submit claims data to the state; carriers must annually notify employers of this option. If authorized, the insurance commissioner will provide employers with annual access to their specific claims data for their plan. The bill does not change how self-funded plans are administered or require employers to submit data, only providing access upon written authorization. This directly affects self-funded employers managing their own health benefits, not fully insured plans.
