SB 233 directs New Hampshire's Grid Modernization Advisory Group to study four specific topics related to electricity reliability and energy storage, including grid challenges, storage's role, market solutions for storage, and an indexing credit model. The bill amends the group's mandate to explicitly include these considerations in its work. It does not impose new regulations or costs but guides the advisory group's focus. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving the governor's signature. The advisory group itself is the primary entity affected by this directive.
SB 212 updates election law terminology by replacing "votes" with "ballots" in specific sections of New Hampshire's election statutes (RSA 659:88 and 659:91-a). It does not change any substantive requirements for write-in nominations or vote thresholds - candidates still need 35 write-in ballots or 10% of total ballots cast to qualify. The bill directly affects election administrators and candidates navigating primary election rules, ensuring consistent language in legal references. This is a purely terminological adjustment with no policy impact, as the 35-ballot or 10% requirements remain unchanged. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, after passing both chambers and receiving gubernatorial approval.
SB 161 strengthens New Hampshire's preference for placing children in foster care within the state by requiring courts to make specific written findings before approving out-of-state placements. It mandates that out-of-state placements must offer specialized services unavailable in-state, be licensed and certified, prioritize proximity to the child's family, limit placement duration, and require approval from the Division for Children, Youth and Families director for placements outside New England. This bill directly affects children in foster care, courts making placement decisions, and child welfare agencies by changing how out-of-state placements are authorized and monitored. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, after being signed by the governor.
SB 196 raises the exemption threshold for state agency projects from competitive bidding requirements from $500,000 to $1,000,000. This means state agencies can now bypass competitive bidding for projects costing up to $1 million, directly affecting agencies managing such projects. The key provision modifies existing law to increase the cost limit for automatic exemption, streamlining procurement for smaller projects. The bill became law on June 17, 2025, and takes effect August 16, 2025. It does not alter bidding rules for projects exceeding $1 million.
SB 65 streamlines permitting for small solar installations by creating a simplified "permit by notification" process for projects under 5 megawatts (MW) that alter terrain for solar panels. This applies to most solar projects but excludes those in protected shoreland areas (as defined by RSA 483-B), which must still follow standard permitting. The law requires the department to adopt these rules by January 1, 2026, and allows temporary waivers under existing rules until then. Signed into law on June 17, 2025, it directly affects solar developers and local permitting authorities by reducing administrative barriers for smaller solar installations.
SB 254 requires criminal history background checks for individuals serving as surrogate parents in New Hampshire's special education system. It mandates that the Department of Education conduct these checks using fingerprints and FBI/state records, valid for 5 years, with strict confidentiality rules (records destroyed after 60 days). The bill disqualifies applicants convicted of specific drug-related offenses (e.g., selling controlled substances under RSA 630:1) or crimes involving children within the past decade. This directly affects surrogate parent applicants who must pay for checks and submit required documentation, while ensuring child safety through standardized screening. (Note: The bill's title mentions "controlled substance inventories," but the actual provisions focus solely on surrogate parent background checks.)
SB 73 increases the daily prize limit for bingo games from $4,000 to $5,000. It specifically allows up to $500 of those prizes to come from commercial halls hosting the games. The bill directly affects bingo operators and commercial halls that run bingo events, setting a new cap on total daily prizes. This change takes effect on July 1, 2025, after being signed into law.
SB 18 allows existing pediatric intermediate care facilities (established before the law's effective date) to temporarily add up to 2 beds beyond their licensed capacity, starting July 1, 2023, and expiring June 30, 2026. The commissioner of health and human services may assess facility needs and request additional beds from the fiscal committee of the legislature if necessary. If approved, the commissioner can increase a facility’s licensed bed count through formal committee approval. This directly affects pediatric facilities serving children in intermediate care, providing temporary flexibility while requiring legislative oversight for permanent capacity changes.
SB 201 allows New Hampshire state agencies to convert certain non-term unclassified or qualifying classified positions to "classified exempt salary" positions, primarily affecting state employees whose roles meet federal overtime exemption standards (FLSA). The bill requires conversions to be voluntary for current employees or occur when a position becomes vacant, with no pay reduction allowed - employees must be placed at the closest pay step matching their previous rate. It also mandates that converted positions be classified under standard job categories based on duties, ensuring consistent placement. The policy change applies to executive departments and agencies seeking to reclassify specific roles without altering employee compensation.
HB 647 adjusts the fee for newborn lifetime hunting and fishing licenses in New Hampshire. It directly affects newborns and their parents who apply for these licenses, changing the fee amount for the lifetime permit. The bill modifies the existing fee structure without specifying a dollar amount, as the context only confirms the fee adjustment. It became law on June 10, 2025, and takes effect July 10, 2025.
HB 355 adjusts the membership structure of the state's Solid Waste Working Group. The bill specifies who may serve on this group, directly affecting the composition of the panel that advises on solid waste management policies. It was passed unanimously by the committee (3-0) and the full chamber, then signed into law by Governor Ayotte on June 10, 2025, effective immediately. As a procedural bill focused solely on group membership, it does not create new policies or funding.
HB 268 modifies procedures for hearings before the Board of Tax and Land Appeals, specifically addressing how these administrative hearings are conducted. The bill, signed into law on June 10, 2025, takes effect January 1, 2026. It focuses on procedural adjustments to the hearing process without changing substantive tax or land appeal outcomes. This is a procedural bill affecting the Board's internal operations, not direct policy changes for taxpayers.
