New Hampshire Bills

passed both · New Hampshire · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 400: relative to duties and reporting requirements of the therapeutic cannabis medical oversight board.

SB 400 requires New Hampshire's Therapeutic Cannabis Medical Oversight Board to review medical and scientific evidence about qualifying conditions for medical cannabis every two years. The board must also submit an annual report by January 1st, including specific citations to the evidence reviewed. This directly affects the oversight board, mandating structured updates to their review process and reporting transparency. The bill focuses on ensuring the board's decisions are consistently supported by current medical research.

passed both · New Hampshire · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 409: relative to the penalties for the offense of disobeying an officer and relative to liability of governmental units.

SB 409 amends penalties for disobeying law enforcement officers during traffic stops or pursuits. It increases penalties for specific violations: disobeying orders to stop (subparagraph I(c)) now carries a class B felony if a motor vehicle accident causes serious injury, and a class A felony if the accident causes death or injury to another person. The bill directly affects drivers who refuse to comply with officers during traffic enforcement, particularly in situations involving collisions. These changes enhance criminal penalties for dangerous disobedience during pursuits, without adding new financial costs to state or local governments.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

passed · New Hampshire · Senate May 20, 2026

SB 425: adopting the physician associate licensure compact.

SB 425 lowers the retirement age for the adjutant general and deputy adjutant general from 65 to 64. It changes the adjutant general's term to a maximum of 5 years or until age 64 (previously age cap alone) and sets the deputy adjutant general's term at 4 years or until age 64. The bill also creates a new appointment process for the commandant of the New Hampshire veterans' home, requiring nomination by the home's board of managers and appointment by the governor and council for a 4-year term. These changes directly affect leadership roles in the New Hampshire National Guard and the veterans' home.

passed · New Hampshire · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 112: relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities.

SB 112 allows New Hampshire's electric distribution utilities or the Department of Energy to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) seeking multi-year agreements for electricity from existing, new, or incremental energy sources, including nuclear plants operational before 2011. It removes a previous statewide cap of 2 million megawatt hours for these agreements, enabling more flexible long-term procurement. The bill aims to address New Hampshire's higher-than-average electricity costs by expanding access to diverse, cost-effective energy options for ratepayers. This change directly affects utilities and their customers, with potential coordination across New England states.

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 649: relative to the maintenance obligations of motor vehicle operators.

HB 649 eliminates the requirement for physical safety inspections and on-board diagnostic tests for all private passenger vehicles in New Hampshire, effective January 1, 2026. The bill also repeals the Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Abatement Fund, which previously received $0.25 from each vehicle inspection fee. This change will reduce state revenue by approximately $1.7 million in fiscal year 2026, with annual decreases of $3.4 million thereafter, and will impact municipal highway fund block grants that receive 12% of vehicle inspection revenue. The bill affects all passenger vehicle owners who would have been required to undergo inspections and alters the funding structure for vehicle safety and environmental programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 365: relative to proof of United States citizenship for indigent voters.

HB 365 creates a process for voters without proof of U.S. citizenship to verify their status and access assistance. It requires election officials to check state/federal databases for citizenship verification (except on election day if it disrupts voting), and for indigent voters who cannot afford a birth certificate, it provides vouchers to cover the cost. Local municipalities receive reimbursement from the Secretary of State for voucher expenses, with $25,000 appropriated annually for fiscal years 2026-2027. The bill directly affects low-income voters unable to obtain citizenship documentation, removing a financial barrier to voting. It does not change citizenship requirements but establishes a concrete pathway for verification and assistance.

in committee · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1748: establishing the New Hampshire energy efficiency and resource development authority.

HB 1748 establishes the New Hampshire Energy Efficiency and Resource Development Authority, a new independent nonprofit body separate from state government. The authority will coordinate all state energy efficiency programs (like home heating improvements and business energy upgrades) to reduce costs for residents and businesses, while also promoting nuclear power development and related industries. It will be governed by a 10-member board including state energy officials, utility regulators, consumer advocates, and four governor-appointed public members. The bill directly affects all New Hampshire residents and businesses by consolidating scattered energy efficiency programs under one agency and advancing nuclear power initiatives as part of the state's energy strategy.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1795: requiring criminal history record checks for the renewal of teaching licenses.

HB 1795 requires all current educators in New Hampshire - such as teachers, administrators, school nurses, and paraprofessionals - to submit a criminal history release form to the Department of Education when renewing their teaching license every three years, at least 60 days before expiration. The bill expands existing checks to include "neglect" in criminal history screenings and defines "educator" broadly to cover all license holders under the state board of education. It becomes effective July 1, 2027, and mandates a secure system for processing these checks. The law directly affects all licensed educators renewing credentials after this date, with no specified fiscal impact noted for the Department of Safety.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1175: relative to the offense of use of scanning device or reencoder to defraud.

HB 1175 updates New Hampshire's law against fraud using scanning devices or reencoders to specifically cover payment card chips (like those in modern credit cards), not just magnetic strips. It makes it illegal to scan or reencode chip data without permission to defraud cardholders, card issuers, or merchants. The bill expands existing criminal penalties to address current fraud methods targeting chip-based payment technology. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1113: enabling towns to establish a 3-year term for town moderators.

HB 1113 allows New Hampshire towns to vote on extending the term of town moderators from two years to three years. If approved by a majority of voters at a town meeting, the next moderator elected would serve a three-year term. Towns can also later vote to return to two-year terms by a similar majority vote. The bill specifies the exact ballot language for these votes and applies to all towns that choose to adopt the change. It does not require any town to implement this change, only provides the option for local voters to decide.

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1696: relative to the issuance of a summons instead of arrest.

HB 1696 allows police to issue a written summons instead of arresting someone for certain misdemeanors or violations (excluding abuse, protective order breaches, or stalking cases). It requires people released on summons to "remain of good behavior" - meaning they cannot commit any new felony, misdemeanor, or major traffic offense while awaiting court. Failing to appear or violating this condition becomes a separate misdemeanor offense, punishable by fines and potentially consecutive jail time. This directly affects individuals charged with minor offenses who are released with a summons instead of being jailed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1118: increasing the limit for moneys remitted to municipal treasurers.

HB 1118 increases the threshold for daily remittance of funds to municipal treasurers from $500 or $1,500 to $3,500. This affects town officers, including tax collectors and town clerks, who must remit collected funds to the treasurer. The bill reduces the frequency of required daily remittances by raising the amount that triggers this requirement, allowing weekly remittance for smaller sums. It becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Bill results