New Hampshire Bills

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1555: relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.

HB 1555 modifies New Hampshire’s fire code administration to provide relief for existing buildings and streamline variance processes. It grants property owners a 20-year exemption from retroactively updating construction to meet new fire codes after receiving a certificate of occupancy (for permits issued July 1, 2026, or later). Local fire chiefs can approve variances from fire code requirements if safety is maintained, requiring property owners to provide fire safety engineer certification and sign an indemnification waiver assuming full liability for deviations. The bill also creates a new appeal path: decisions on variances can be reviewed de novo by the state fire marshal, with further appeals to the building code review board.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1774: relative to qualifying scholarship granting organizations and federal workforce Pell grants.

HB 1774 requires New Hampshire to participate in a federal tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations and creates a state list of qualifying groups. It prohibits state financial aid for college programs that don't meet federal earnings standards, defined by outcomes like job placement and wages above 150% of the federal poverty level. This affects public colleges, universities, and students enrolled in programs deemed "low-earning outcome" under federal criteria. The law aims to redirect state funding toward academic programs with stronger job prospects for graduates.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1328: relative to alcohol and other drug use professionals and relative to the qualifications to obtain certain occupational licenses.

HB 1328 updates New Hampshire's licensing structure for alcohol and drug use professionals. It changes the board composition to include three master licensed alcohol and drug counselors (down from four) and two licensed alcohol and drug counselors (up from one), while eliminating the "licensed clinical supervisor" license and all related rules. This directly affects the board's membership and the licensing of professionals who previously held or sought the clinical supervisor credential. The bill removes four specific law sections about clinical supervisors and takes effect 60 days after passage.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1563: relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.

HB 1563 adjusts New Hampshire's special education funding formula to better support school districts serving students with high-cost special education needs. It sets a new $60,000 threshold for aid eligibility (replacing the previous 3.5x average per-pupil cost formula), requiring districts to cover the first $60,000 plus 20% of costs up to $200,000 per student, while the state covers 80% of costs between $60,000-$200,000 and 90% above $200,000 - capping total state aid at $160,000 per student. The bill also creates emergency assistance funds ($250,000 annually for districts under 1,000 residents) to address sudden financial strain from special education costs. This directly affects school districts with students requiring costly specialized services, altering how costs are shared between districts and the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1511: relative to the membership of the agriculture in the classroom committee, the annual proclamation of "New Hampshire Day at the Big E," and repealing the repeal of the produce safety chapter.

HB 1511 removes a representative from the Granite State Dairy Promotion from the Agriculture in the Classroom committee. The bill amends state law by repealing the specific provision that required this dairy industry representative to serve on the committee. This change directly affects the committee's membership composition but does not alter the committee's duties, funding, or other operational aspects. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1193: naming a 911 call service center in Laconia in honor of Bruce G. Cheney.

This bill (HB 1193) names the new 911 call service center in Laconia, New Hampshire (located at 311 Meredith Center Road) the "Bruce Cheney 911 Service Center" in recognition of Bruce G. Cheney's role in developing New Hampshire's statewide 911 emergency call system. It does not change any laws or policies - it is a commemorative act honoring Cheney's contributions. The naming takes effect 60 days after the bill is passed. This bill directly affects the facility's official designation and serves as a tribute to Cheney.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1262: relative to home heating oil and propane contracts and sales.

HB 1262 requires home heating oil, kerosene, and propane dealers to provide clear, written contracts that disclose all terms in plain language - including total costs, delivery details, and contact information for the state consumer protection hotline. The bill specifically regulates prepaid contracts by restricting advertising to May 1-October 31, mandating refunds for undelivered fuel within 30 days, and requiring dealers to secure contracts through methods like futures contracts, surety bonds, or liquid inventory. These rules directly affect dealers who sell prepaid home heating fuel and consumers who enter such agreements. The bill excludes budget plans with monthly payments from these requirements.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1197: making technical corrections to certain insurance laws.

HB 1197 makes technical corrections to New Hampshire's insurance laws, specifically amending RSA 400-A:16 (Investigations, Enforcement) and RSA 400-A:36 (Annual Financial Statement). The Insurance Department requested these changes to clarify language, remove outdated references, and fix minor errors without altering substantive requirements for insurers or the department's authority. The bill does not create new obligations or change enforcement procedures but ensures the laws are accurately worded and consistent. It directly affects insurers, agents, and the Insurance Department by updating administrative language in existing statutes.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1127: relative to the uniform voidable transactions act.

HB 1127 replaces New Hampshire’s current "Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act" with the "Uniform Voidable Transactions Act" to align state law with a national model. This bill updates terminology and definitions (such as "debtor," "creditor," and "insider") used in bankruptcy and debt collection cases, directly affecting creditors, debtors, and courts handling asset transfers. The key change is procedural - it doesn’t create new rules but standardizes existing legal language to match the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act used in other states. This simplifies legal processes for creditors seeking to recover assets transferred before bankruptcy.

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1603: requiring the executive director of the department of fish and game to adopt rules relative to procedures for verifying accuracy of records collected relative to threatened and endangered wildlife and ensuring landowner permission is granted for the gathering of such record.

HB 1603 requires state agencies to provide current, verifiable proof of an endangered or threatened species' presence - such as GPS coordinates, timestamped photos, and official credentials - before restricting land use for that species' habitat. It directly affects landowners whose property may face restrictions and state agencies like Fish and Game. The bill mandates that any evidence used must include written landowner permission or an administrative warrant for data collection. It also prohibits agencies from requiring new biodiversity surveys as a condition for land use applications. This policy change aims to ensure land use decisions are based on recent, documented evidence rather than outdated data.

Topics ✗ Environment

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1756: allowing organizations to file for property tax exemptions once and receive those exemptions unless and until a town assessor finds the organization ineligible for an exemption.

HB 1756 allows qualifying organizations (including religious, educational, charitable groups, and veterans associations like the American Legion) to submit a single application for property tax exemptions instead of filing annually. Once approved, exemptions remain in effect permanently unless a town assessor later determines the organization no longer qualifies. The bill requires annual field reviews by local assessors to verify ongoing eligibility and mandates organizations to provide updated documentation at least every five years (or annually if requested). This replaces the current system where exemptions must be re-verified each year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1245: relative to voluntary portable benefits plans for independent contractors.

HB 1245 establishes a voluntary framework for independent contractors in New Hampshire to access portable benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or disability coverage through designated providers. Hiring parties (businesses or platforms) can voluntarily contribute to these plans or withhold a portion of payment from the contractor, with the contractor’s written consent. Crucially, participation in these plans cannot be used to reclassify a worker as an employee under state law, preserving current independent contractor status. The bill requires clear opt-in agreements and has no estimated state or local cost impact.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results