HB 1838 creates a "voter-owned elections fund" and commission to provide public funding for qualifying candidates, while raising vehicle registration fees to fund it. The bill increases vanity plate fees from $60 to $65 and adds a $1 annual fee for all private passenger vehicles. The new commission will manage the fund and provide financial support to candidates who file a registration affidavit and meet specific spending thresholds during election cycles. This directly affects vehicle owners through higher registration costs and candidates who qualify under the new public financing rules.
HB 1482 would replace the Old Man of the Mountain graphic on standard passenger license plates in New Hampshire with four seasonal scenic designs (fall foliage, winter skiing, spring trout fishing, and summer boating) starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to work with the Division of Travel and Tourism Development to create these designs, maintain the "Live Free or Die" motto, and distribute each design equally each year. It does not create new fees or revenue, as the seasonal plates would replace an existing plate series with no additional ongoing costs beyond a one-time $180,000 system update. This change affects all standard passenger vehicle owners in New Hampshire who receive new plates after 2026.
HB 1743 requires New Hampshire electric utilities to annually provide customers with written information about radiation levels emitted by smart meters installed at their homes. Utilities must deliver this disclosure in paper or electronic format - either as a separate notice or included with a regular bill - and the Public Utilities Commission will oversee compliance and may establish implementing rules. The bill directly affects all residential and business customers with smart meters and the state's electricity providers. This policy mandates transparency about smart meter radiation without altering current funding mechanisms or requiring new state spending.
HB 1649 prohibits towns, cities, and villages from using any taxpayer funds - such as general, reserve, or public funds - to donate money to non-profit organizations. It allows exceptions only for competitive grant programs that serve a clear public purpose and follow state/federal laws. The bill explicitly states that non-profits may still contract for goods/services through standard bidding processes, as long as these are quantifiable and verifiable. This amendment to RSA 31 applies directly to municipal governments and takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1703 requires annual $50 registration for all bicycles and electric bicycles used on public bike paths, trails, or roadways funded by the state or municipalities. It directs the Division of Motor Vehicles to collect fees and penalties (up to $100 for unregistered use), with all funds going to the Department of Transportation for building and maintaining bike infrastructure. The bill exempts peace officers on duty, pocket bikes, mopeds, and motorcycles. Registration applications must include owner details and proof of ownership, with minors requiring parental/guardian signatures. This applies to any public way where bicycles are legally permitted.
HB 1686 creates a program requiring drivers convicted of speeding over 100 mph (RSA 265:79) or habitual offenders with conditional driving privileges (RSA 259:39) to install speed-limiting devices on their vehicles instead of facing license suspension. The program, administered by the Department of Safety, mandates these "intelligent speed assistance" devices for 6 months to 2 years, with offenders covering all costs for purchase, installation, and maintenance. Drivers must keep the devices active; tampering or disabling them constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by additional penalties. This policy aims to address repeat speeding violations through technology-based monitoring rather than license revocation.
HB 1397 requires municipalities to send written notice by verified mail to adjacent property owners (called "abutters") when a cutting operation (such as tree removal) may impact their property. It gives these owners a 30-day period to comment before the project can be approved. The applicant requesting the cutting must cover the cost of sending these notices. This bill applies to any municipal cutting project affecting neighboring properties and adds a definition for "abutter" to property tax law.
HB 1606 prohibits Chinese nationals (non-U.S. citizens with ties to the People's Republic of China government, such as PRC state-owned enterprise employees or CCP members) from owning or controlling real property in New Hampshire. It provides a 90-day grace period for current owners to sell properties, after which undivested properties face state seizure. Violations trigger civil penalties of 25% of the property’s value, criminal misdemeanor charges for facilitators, and automatic forfeiture of the property to the state. The bill directly affects PRC nationals and entities facilitating their property acquisitions, with enforcement handled by state courts and the Department of Justice.
This bill requires all New Hampshire law enforcement agencies to use a standardized lethality assessment tool (LAP) during responses to suspected domestic violence incidents, violations of protective orders, and stalking cases involving domestic violence. It mandates that officers administer the LAP screening with victims and submit the results to the court at the defendant's arraignment. Currently, participation in the LAP program is voluntary, with only about 45% of departments reporting data; this bill makes statewide use mandatory. The policy directly affects police departments, victims in these cases, and court proceedings by ensuring consistent assessment of risk during critical early stages of investigations.
HB 1475 requires New Hampshire's Department of Energy to study how electricity distribution costs are split between fixed fees (charged to all customers regardless of usage) and usage-based fees (based on kilowatt-hour consumption). The study must examine specific cost categories like storm recovery, infrastructure replacement (e.g., poles), and capacity upgrades tied to demand. The Department must report findings and recommendations to the legislature and governor by November 2026, with costs recovered through existing utility assessments that would have minimal impact on individual customer bills.
HB 1568 requires all vehicle owners in New Hampshire to maintain minimum liability insurance coverage for registered vehicles, directly affecting every motorist who registers a car in the state. The bill sets specific coverage limits: $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Owners must provide proof of insurance at registration and when requested by law enforcement, with penalties including $250 for a first offense and $500 for repeat violations, plus potential registration suspension. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not change existing insurance premium tax revenue.
HB 1481 allows restaurants with on-premises alcohol licenses to obtain a special "Restaurant Delivery License" ($250 annual fee) to deliver alcoholic drinks made with distilled alcohol for take-out. To qualify, deliveries must include food prepared by the restaurant, occur during business hours in permitted areas, and use sealed containers labeled with the restaurant’s name, drink description, and alcohol content (ABV). Deliveries must be made by employees aged 21+ who get a signed receipt from customers (excluding visibly intoxicated or underage individuals), and the bill prohibits deliveries to schools, libraries, parks, or public venues. This creates a new framework for alcohol delivery while maintaining existing rules about consumption and resale.
