This bill eliminates existing premiums for New Hampshire's Medicaid programs (Granite Advantage for adults and CHIP for children) and limits any cost-sharing fees under expanded Medicaid to $5 per service. It repeals current premium requirements that generated approximately $16 million annually in state revenue, requiring a $16 million appropriation in FY2027 to offset this loss. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with the $5 cost-sharing cap applying starting October 1, 2028. The bill directly affects current Medicaid recipients by removing premium payments and modifies state budgeting for the Medicaid program.
HB 1739 creates incentives to attract large data-center campuses to New Hampshire while modernizing the electric grid. It offers developers phased property tax breaks over 12 years and transferable tax credits covering up to 20% of construction costs, contingent on signing binding Grid Modernization Agreements. These agreements require developers to source non-gas electricity (like solar or wind) matching their energy use, fund grid-stabilizing programs, and partner with community colleges for workforce training in data-center operations. The bill also establishes fast-track permitting for eligible sites and mandates community benefits like noise limits, environmental screening, and resident bill credits from exported power.
HB 1567 changes how telecommunications companies pay taxes for using public roads. It requires the tax value of telecom poles and conduits in public rights-of-way to include the average land value per acre adjacent to roads multiplied by the total length of specific road classes (I, II, IV, and V). This new calculation replaces the previous method and must be applied to all affected telecom infrastructure. The bill directly affects telecom providers (including VoIP and mobile services) that install equipment on public roads.
HB 1498 requires all agendas, minutes, and reports from state government study committees and statutory commissions to be posted online within 5 days of their meetings. The documents must be available on both the general court website and the relevant state agency websites. This bill directly affects the public by improving access to government meeting materials, making it easier for citizens to review committee work. It creates a clear, time-bound requirement for transparency without changing existing rules about other public records.
HB 1673 allows small liquor manufacturers (those producing under 1,000 cases annually) to sell directly to bars and restaurants (on-premises licensees), bypassing the state liquor commission. Currently, these manufacturers could only sell to off-premises customers or through the commission, but this bill repeals that restriction. The law sets clear limits: manufacturers may sell no more than 12 cases per customer per year, with each sale capped at one 9-liter case. This change directly affects small producers and venues serving alcohol on-site, enabling more direct business relationships while maintaining sales volume controls.
HB 1203 requires courts to immediately order the return of firearms or ammunition seized during a criminal case when the case ends in a not guilty verdict or is dismissed by the state. It mandates that law enforcement agencies must return the property within 24 hours of the court order, eliminating the need for background checks in these specific situations. The bill directly affects individuals whose firearms were temporarily seized as part of a criminal proceeding that did not result in a conviction. This policy change ensures a streamlined process for returning property without additional screening once a case concludes without a guilty finding.
HB 1740 updates New Hampshire's domestic violence protection laws to strengthen victim safety and law enforcement response. It requires police to immediately investigate all abuse reports, create written reports within 24 hours, and mandate arrests when probable cause exists - regardless of whether the abuse was witnessed. The bill also establishes a new domestic violence law enforcement training fund and clarifies that civil protective orders must follow criminal proceedings, not replace them. These changes directly affect victims of domestic violence, law enforcement agencies, and courts handling such cases.
HB 1679 establishes a refundable $0.10 deposit on most beverage containers sold in New Hampshire, requiring distributors to collect the deposit and consumers to return empty containers to redemption centers or retailers for a refund. It exempts containers larger than 3 liters, milk, plant-based milk, infant formula, and beverages sold on airlines or trains. Distributors reimburse redemption centers $0.035 per container for processing, and unclaimed deposits after one year fund recycling infrastructure and litter prevention programs. The program, effective January 2027, directly affects distributors, retailers, redemption centers, and consumers purchasing eligible beverages.
HB 1725 establishes New Hampshire’s first comprehensive AI regulation, applying to businesses, government entities, and developers operating in the state or serving residents with AI systems. It requires clear consumer disclosure when interacting with AI (except emergencies), prohibits discriminatory AI development or use for social scoring/manipulation, and bans government use of biometrics without consent. Key mechanisms include creating a 7-member AI Council for oversight, a 36-month regulatory sandbox for testing innovations, and granting the Attorney General enforcement authority with fines up to $200,000 per violation. The law preempts local AI regulations and takes effect January 1, 2027, with no new state funding required.
HB 1120 requires local planning boards to adopt subdivision regulations for developments with 4 or more units, mandating water supply studies to confirm adequate water quantity for current, proposed, and future uses. It also establishes minimum on-lot private well testing requirements and ensures protection of water-dependent natural resources. The bill clarifies that developers must cover associated costs for these studies and testing, while excluding community water systems and large groundwater withdrawals regulated under existing laws. This directly affects subdivision developers, local planning boards, and property owners with private wells in affected areas.
HB 1417 allows New Hampshire towns, cities, and villages to implement a land value tax (LVT) system, where land is taxed at a higher rate than buildings or improvements. Municipalities must hold a public hearing and adopt the system via local vote, setting separate tax rates for land value (higher) and improvement value (lower or zero), with a transition plan. The bill requires transparent public reporting of parcel-level land and improvement values and appropriates funds to the Department of Revenue Administration for implementation support. It ensures existing education and county taxes remain unchanged, and all state tax exemptions still apply first to building improvements before land. This policy shifts the tax burden from buildings to land ownership, aiming to encourage efficient land use and housing development.
HB 1677 requires towns and cities with a local tax cap to get a recommendation from their budget committee or governing body before including any budget items that raise taxes in their annual tax estimate. This applies specifically to "warrant articles" (budget items) with a tax impact, ensuring they are formally endorsed before being counted toward the tax cap limit. The bill amends RSA 32:5-b to mandate this recommendation step, certification, and posting on the warrant, without changing the tax cap amount itself.
