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.
This bill amends New Hampshire's dog control law to explicitly allow dogs to guard crops without being restrained (e.g., leashed or confined), provided the owner can see, hear, or has reasonable knowledge of the dog's location. It directly affects farmers and agricultural property owners who use dogs for crop protection, such as deterring wildlife. The key provision clarifies that "guarding crops" is a permitted use under existing law, removing ambiguity about owner supervision requirements. The change takes effect January 1, 2027.
SB 445 changes the process for enforcing air pollution permits by requiring hearings before suspending permits and establishing a tiered fine system based on violation severity (ranging from $100 to $4,000). It affects businesses holding air pollution permits and the Department of Environmental Services, clarifying when hearings are needed and how fines are calculated. The bill replaces vague references to "hearings" with specific legal procedures under RSA 541-A and RSA 21-O:11. This modifies administrative enforcement without altering environmental standards or permit requirements.
This bill increases penalties for businesses repeatedly violating laws governing the sale of seeds, plants, and nursery stock in New Hampshire. It establishes a three-tier penalty system for "habitual offenders": a six-month sales ban at the violation location for a second offense, a one-year ban for a third offense, and permanent prohibition for a fourth violation. The Department of Agriculture will define "habitual violation" through rules, and penalties apply specifically to the business location where violations occur. These changes take effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting sellers of agricultural products who face repeated enforcement actions.
This bill increases the state's maximum guarantee limit from $200 million to $500 million for the Business Finance Authority. It raises the total amount of state-backed financial guarantees (like loan assurances for businesses) that can be active at one time, effective March 1, 2026. The change directly affects the authority's ability to support business financing through state guarantees. This is a procedural adjustment to an existing financial limit, not a new program.
SB 487 amends New Hampshire law to allow credit unions to pay their board members for serving on the board, which is currently prohibited. The bill removes the existing restriction preventing such payments, enabling credit union members (the owners) to set the compensation amount at an annual meeting. This change directly affects credit unions and their board members by making board service compensable, rather than requiring it to be voluntary. The law now permits credit unions to establish board compensation as part of their operational structure.
SB 507 limits school districts' financial responsibility for continuing education services for students expelled due to assaulting school staff. It requires districts to cover only the average per-pupil cost for such students, rather than full educational expenses. The bill does not change expulsion rules or relieve parents of their obligation to educate their children. This applies specifically to students expelled for assault against staff and takes effect 60 days after enactment.
This bill establishes consumer protections for digital kiosks that allow people to buy, sell, or transfer digital assets (like cryptocurrency) using cash. It requires kiosks to hold first-time transactions for 48 hours (with a cancellation option), limit daily spending to $5,000 for new users and $15,000 for existing users, and display clear warnings about scams (e.g., "no government agency will ever demand payment by crypto"). Operators must verify identities, block transactions to known scam addresses, disclose all fees and reference prices, and provide detailed receipts. These rules directly affect kiosk operators and consumers, particularly older adults targeted by scammers.
