HB 1791 directs New Hampshire's Department of Education to create a competitive grant program for public colleges and universities. The program provides funding to institutions that develop comprehensive support services for students with developmental disabilities, ensuring equal access to academic courses, campus life, and employment opportunities. To qualify, institutions must offer peer mentoring, remove unnecessary admission barriers (like requiring high school diplomas or specific college entrance exams), and provide monthly progress coaching. The bill appropriates state funds to support this initiative, aiming to expand inclusive higher education options for this population.
HB 1525 requires New Hampshire municipalities to permit at least two unrelated people per bedroom in single-family homes located within areas zoned for multi-family residential use. This change applies specifically to single-family dwellings on individual lots in multi-family zones, without altering state building or fire safety codes. The bill defines a "bedroom" as any room primarily intended for sleeping, even if used for other purposes, and clarifies that local regulations cannot override this occupancy standard. It directly affects homeowners, renters, and local governments by expanding housing flexibility in designated multi-family zones.
HB 1520 redefines "citizen of New Hampshire" for voting purposes as either a native-born resident or someone who has taken an oath of allegiance to the state. It requires voters to provide proof of New Hampshire citizenship (such as a birth certificate, New Hampshire citizenship card, or sworn oath) and U.S. citizenship (like a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization papers) when registering to vote. The bill also mandates that the secretary of state issue New Hampshire citizenship cards to eligible residents who qualify as native-born or through oath of allegiance. This legislation establishes new verification steps for voter registration in New Hampshire, clarifying state citizenship requirements.
HB 1531 requires applicants for new or renewed licenses to operate gaming facilities (including "games of chance" facilities and game operator employer licenses) to negotiate and sign agreements with the local municipality where the facility will operate. These "host community agreements" must address specific impacts like infrastructure, emergency response, security, public inquiries, and local hiring, negotiated in good faith. Before finalizing, the municipality must provide public notice and allow a 14-day comment period, with the agreement submitted to the licensing commission as a prerequisite for approval. Existing license holders are exempt until their licenses expire and they renew.
HB 1589, the Digital Choice Act, requires social media companies operating in New Hampshire to let users access and share their personal data across platforms. It directly affects New Hampshire residents who use social media services and the companies that provide them. The bill mandates that companies implement open technical standards allowing users to download their social interactions (like posts, connections, and public engagement) in a portable format and share this data with other platforms, while excluding private messages. Users gain the right to delete their data or obtain a copy they can easily transfer, with companies required to secure data and maintain interoperability through non-discriminatory terms. The law does not apply to email, cloud storage, or document services.
This bill creates a committee called the "better education on life-saving action committee" to study how to improve public awareness of New Hampshire's good Samaritan law. The law protects people from legal liability when they call for medical help during a drug overdose. The committee will examine current outreach methods, identify effective ways to reach high-risk communities, and assess whether state funding could help spread the information. It must report its findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026.
HB 1627 creates a single primary ballot for all state and congressional candidates in New Hampshire, replacing the previous system where voters could only choose from candidates of their registered party. This change allows any registered voter to vote for any candidate in the primary, regardless of their own party affiliation or lack of registration. The bill clarifies that candidates may indicate a party preference on the ballot, but this does not imply party endorsement or make them the official candidate of that party. It also modifies sample ballot distribution and vote-counting rules for primaries, requiring votes for the same candidate across different party ballots to be counted separately. This directly affects all registered voters participating in New Hampshire's state and congressional primaries.
HB 1558 requires drivers in New Hampshire to provide proof of insurance meeting minimum coverage limits (as defined in RSA 264:20) or a financial responsibility certificate (like a surety bond) at the time of vehicle registration. It directly affects all vehicle owners registering or renewing registration in the state. The key provision mandates immediate suspension of a driver’s license and registration if they cannot show proof during a lawful traffic stop. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and modifies existing law to enforce financial responsibility before accidents occur, rather than solely after.
SB 479 allows alternative treatment centers (ATCs) to operate as for-profit businesses, previously requiring them to be non-profit entities. This bill amends state law to permit ATCs organized as business corporations or limited liability companies (instead of only non-profit voluntary corporations) to sell cannabis to qualifying patients. Key provisions remove the mandatory non-profit status requirement and establish procedures for non-profit ATCs to legally convert to for-profit structures. The change directly affects ATC operators seeking to pursue commercial models while maintaining existing patient access to therapeutic cannabis.
HB 1083 requires individuals or organizations making large independent political expenditures to disclose the original source of the funds. Specifically, it applies to those spending over $500,000 supporting/opposing a gubernatorial candidate or over $50,000 total for other state offices (executive council, state senate, or state representative). These entities must file an itemized report with the Secretary of State listing each original contributor's name and address. The bill targets transparency in campaign finance by revealing who ultimately funds significant election-related spending. It does not change existing contribution limits but mandates disclosure for high-value independent expenditures.
This bill requires New Hampshire municipalities to permit multi-family housing (like apartment buildings) on land currently zoned for commercial use (e.g., stores or offices), provided adequate infrastructure (roads, water, sewage) exists. It also allows towns to mandate ground-floor retail space in new mixed-use developments and block residential use in industrial zones where impacts like noise or pollution might occur. Municipalities can convert existing nonconforming buildings (e.g., outdated structures) to housing without making them more nonconforming. Implementation costs are estimated to be minimal, under $10,000 per municipality.
HB 1732 requires new multi-unit housing developments (over 6 units) approved on or after January 1, 2027, to reserve 5% of units for residents eligible for federal housing vouchers and design another 5% of units to meet universal accessibility standards. This directly affects developers of new residential projects and impacts residents with disabilities, as well as individuals using federal housing vouchers. The bill mandates compliance monitoring by regional housing authorities and requires the state health department and housing finance agency to create informational resources for developers. It does not provide new state funding but estimates minimal costs for administrative support.
