SB 107 creates a dedicated, permanent account within New Hampshire's fish and game fund called the "nongame species account." This account collects all funds from the fish and game department, including federal money, state appropriations, and donations, and requires the state treasurer to invest these funds according to law. Any interest earned from these investments must be added back to the account, and all funds in this account must be used exclusively for developing and implementing programs to protect non-game wildlife species (like birds, butterflies, and other animals not hunted or fished). The bill was signed into law on June 10, 2025, and becomes effective on August 9, 2025.
SB 194 is a procedural bill that only amends the bill's title and renumbers its sections (changing "Section 3" to "Section 2" after deleting Section 2). It does not change any cosmetology licensing qualifications, requirements, or fees. The bill directly affects administrative records but has no impact on cosmetologists or the public. It was signed into law on June 10, 2025, and takes effect August 9, 2025.
SB 278 allows child welfare courts to consider certain criminal convictions from other states as grounds for terminating parental rights. It directly affects parents with qualifying convictions in states outside the current jurisdiction and the courts handling parental rights petitions. The bill expands the definition of "qualifying convictions" to include those from other states, requiring courts to evaluate these when determining if parental rights should be terminated. The law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2025, takes effect January 1, 2026.
SB 299 increases penalties for contractors who violate water pollution and waste disposal regulations. It directly affects construction and waste management contractors who fail to comply with environmental rules. The bill establishes higher fines for these violations, though specific penalty amounts are not detailed in the provided context. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.
SB 22 requires child care licensing units within the Department of Health and Human Services to disclose criminal history and criminal records to the licensing unit itself when processing license applications. This directly affects individuals and organizations seeking or renewing child care licenses, as they must now provide this information for review. The bill mandates that licensing units share these records with the department to assess eligibility for child care licensing. The law became effective on June 30, 2025, for Section 5, with the remainder taking effect on July 1, 2025.
SB 229 allows the sale of uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat within the state. It directly affects producers and sellers of these specific wild game meats by removing the requirement for mandatory state inspection for their sale. The key provision permits these meats to be sold without inspection under defined conditions, streamlining the process for small-scale producers. The bill became law on June 10, 2025, and took effect on June 30, 2025.
HB 272 removes local noise regulations that currently apply to specific agricultural operations, such as early-morning farm equipment use. It directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses by exempting certain routine practices from municipal noise ordinances. The bill becomes effective August 1, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers and being signed by Governor Ayotte on June 2, 2025. This change allows farms to operate without local noise restrictions during permitted hours.
HB 62 modifies how military protective orders are handled in domestic violence cases. It requires courts to recognize and enforce military protective orders issued under federal law when filed in state court, directly affecting military personnel and their families facing domestic violence. The bill ensures these orders carry the same legal weight as state-issued protective orders, streamlining protection for service members. It became law after passing both chambers and being signed by Governor Ayotte, effective January 1, 2026.
HB 288 limits when voters can request absentee ballots by requiring most applications to be received or postmarked within six months before an election. It directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots, except for federal UOCAVA forms (used by military and overseas voters), which can only be submitted starting January of the election year. The bill modifies state law to prevent acceptance of absentee ballot applications received earlier than this six-month window. This creates a specific timeframe for submitting absentee ballot requests, aligning with standard election administration practices.
HB 552 expands health insurance coverage under the state retiree insurance plan to include children of state retirees, directly affecting current and future retirees who have dependent children. The bill modifies the existing plan to automatically cover children without requiring additional premiums or separate applications. Signed into law by Governor Ayotte on June 2, 2025, it takes effect August 1, 2025, making this coverage permanent for eligible retirees. The change simplifies access to health insurance for retiree families without altering cost structures for participants.
HB 168 expands the types of public infrastructure projects eligible for impact fee assessments. It allows cities and towns to include municipal public works facilities - such as water treatment plants, fire stations, or public transportation hubs - in the calculation of fees charged to new development projects. This change requires developers to pay impact fees for these specific municipal facilities, directly affecting local governments and new construction projects. The law takes effect on August 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor.
HB 494 is a procedural bill that updates the bill's title to accurately reflect its subject: the "math learning communities program." It does not change the program's policies, funding, or eligibility. The bill only corrects the title and renumbers sections for consistency in the law. This technical adjustment took effect on July 1, 2025, after being signed by Governor Ayotte.
