HB 1153 increases annual dog license fees from $4.50 to $4.75 for unspayed/unneutered dogs 7 months or older and for certain younger dogs, directly affecting dog owners in New Hampshire municipalities. It also establishes a legislative committee to review the state’s dog and cat statutes (RSA 466), focusing on whether current laws match regulatory needs and are clearly organized. The committee, composed of three House members and one Senate member, must submit findings and recommendations by November 1, 2026. The fee change is expected to generate minimal additional revenue for municipalities - less than $10,000 per town - without altering existing animal regulations.
This bill repeals a 2025 law requiring New Hampshire to sell the Anna Philbrook Center property in Concord by June 2027. The state currently uses the property for adult transitional housing and office space for about 40 state staff. By removing the sales mandate, the bill prevents the state from collecting an expected $5 million in revenue from the sale while avoiding $75,000-$90,000 in costs related to preparing the property for sale and relocating equipment. The repeal keeps the property under state management without changing its current operational use.
HB 1199 allows New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department to establish a permit and fee system for other state agencies requesting its staff, equipment, or expertise to support their work. The bill requires fees to cover actual department costs, including staff salaries/benefits, vehicle/equipment use, and administrative coordination. All collected fees would be deposited into the Fish and Game fund. This policy change directly affects state agencies needing Fish and Game support, creating a formal reimbursement process for services previously provided without cost recovery.
SB 607 aligns New Hampshire's rules with federal limits for short-term health insurance policies. It prohibits insurers from offering these policies for more than the maximum duration permitted under federal law, removing previous state-specific limits (like the 6-month cap and 540-day total coverage restriction). This directly affects consumers seeking temporary health coverage and insurance companies selling these policies in New Hampshire. The bill ensures state regulations do not allow longer coverage periods than federal guidelines permit. It becomes effective January 1, 2027.
SB 548 requires health insurance companies in New Hampshire to hold a public hearing with the insurance commissioner within 15 business days if they terminate a contract with a healthcare provider that would affect 1,000 or more patients. It also mandates that all health insurance provider contracts include a 60-day provision ensuring patients maintain access to their provider after termination (except for unprofessional conduct), and requires insurers and providers to jointly notify affected patients about this access and the hearing. The bill directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients covered by these contracts. These provisions aim to ensure transparency and continuity of care during contract terminations that impact large groups of patients.
HB 1298 requires local election officials (town clerks) to dispose of external memory devices from electronic ballot counting machines in the same manner as physical ballots. The bill amends state law to explicitly include these devices under existing disposal rules for ballots, absentee applications, and related election materials. This applies to both federal and non-federal elections, with retention periods of at least 22 months for federal elections or 60 days for others. The change ensures memory devices are destroyed rather than stored, aligning their disposal with standard ballot handling procedures.
SB 529 requires state-funded building projects in New Hampshire to prioritize lumber harvested in the United States for material specifications, unless design needs necessitate imported sources. It specifically directs contractors to reference U.S.-sourced spruce-pine-fir (SPF) lumber for softwood framing in construction plans. This applies to all state-funded projects, affecting state agencies and contractors working on public buildings. The bill does not mandate exclusive use of U.S. lumber but establishes a preference, with implementation set for 60 days after passage.
This bill (SB 615) changes how New Hampshire administers SNAP benefits (food stamps) through EBT cards. It requires the state to seek a federal waiver to block SNAP use for candy and soft drinks, strengthens work requirements for eligible adults, and mandates data-sharing with state agencies (like lottery, employment, and corrections) to verify recipient eligibility more rigorously. The bill also prohibits the state from applying more lenient SNAP rules than federal law allows. These changes directly affect SNAP recipients and the state’s health and human services department, which must implement the new verification processes.
HB 1361 modifies New Hampshire law governing search warrant inventories by requiring law enforcement officers to create inventories in the presence of the person searched (or a neutral witness if they're absent), rather than the warrant applicant. It also allows electronic inventories for digital evidence with officer verification, and specifies a standardized return form for warrant execution. The bill directly affects police officers executing searches and ensures clearer documentation for individuals whose property is seized. It takes effect January 1, 2027, as requested by the Department of Safety.
SB 541 appropriates $16.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services for Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. It directly funds infrastructure (including pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines) to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The bill requires that no public utility ratepayer face adverse costs from this project. Funds are nonlapsing, meaning they remain available for use beyond the fiscal year without needing annual renewal.
HB 1535 clarifies which thermal energy sources qualify under New Hampshire's renewable portfolio standard. It modifies three sections of state law to specify that geothermal, methane gas, and solar thermal energy systems must have begun operation after January 1, 2013, to count toward renewable energy requirements. This change directly affects renewable energy providers seeking to comply with the state's renewable portfolio standard. The bill does not create new requirements but clarifies existing eligibility criteria for thermal energy sources. The bill takes effect upon passage.
HB 1140 allows disabled individuals with specific physical conditions - such as paraplegia, loss of both lower extremities, or other disabilities approved by the executive director - to hunt from motor vehicles with a special permit. To qualify, hunters must hold a current hunting license, apply for the permit (with a $10 fee), and carry it while hunting. The permit permits hunting from motor vehicles, including off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, and terrain vehicles, but prohibits carrying loaded firearms while the vehicle is moving. This change modifies existing hunting regulations to accommodate certain disabled hunters under strict safety and licensing requirements.
