HB 1026 clarifies that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - small secondary housing units on the same lot as a main home - are not considered manufactured housing. The bill explicitly states that municipalities may prohibit ADUs associated with manufactured housing, such as mobile homes or factory-built units. This change affects local zoning decisions, allowing towns to restrict ADUs in manufactured housing developments while ensuring ADUs remain excluded from the legal definition of manufactured housing. The law updates state definitions to prevent ambiguity in housing regulations.
HB 1611 modifies New Hampshire's rules for seizing private property during declared emergencies. It limits such takings to actual necessities, requires written warrants from the Safety Commissioner, and mandates detailed receipts for seized property. The bill expands compensation for affected owners to include replacement costs, loss of use, and legal fees, and creates a commission to assess fair payment. Property owners whose land or buildings are seized also gain a first right to repurchase the property at market price. These changes apply only during emergencies and take effect January 1, 2027.
HB 1658 requires app stores operating in New Hampshire to verify users' age categories (e.g., child, teenager) and obtain parental consent for minors under 18. It mandates that app stores create "minor accounts" (for users under 18) linked to "parent accounts" (for adults), and disclose key information like an app's age rating, content description, data collection practices, and data protection methods to parents before consent. The bill also requires re-obtaining parental consent for significant app changes, such as new in-app purchases or altered data collection. This law directly affects app store providers (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play), app developers, and parents of minors in New Hampshire.
HB 1263 clarifies that disposable military retirement pay (defined as retirement pay after tax and mandatory deductions) is excluded from gross income calculations for alimony and cannot be divided as marital property in divorce settlements. The bill requires alimony payments sourced from this pay to automatically terminate or suspend when the payor retires, unless federal law or regulations require otherwise. It specifically distinguishes disposable military retirement pay from other military benefits and ensures alimony orders based on this pay follow the same rules as civilian retirement pay. This law takes effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting divorcing couples where military retirement pay is used to fund alimony.
HB 1614 restricts the sale and use of coal tar-based sealants containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), harmful chemicals linked to environmental and health concerns. The law bans applying or selling these products on driveways and parking areas starting January 1, 2027, directly affecting homeowners, contractors, and sealant manufacturers. Exemptions are allowed only for research or development of alternatives, requiring written approval from the Department of Environmental Services. The bill has minimal fiscal impact, costing less than $10,000 annually for state agencies through 2029.
This bill requires marital masters, arbitrators, mediators, and judicial referees in New Hampshire to first be commissioned as a justice of the peace to qualify for their positions. It mandates that these individuals renew their justice of the peace commission every five years through the standard application process and take an oath as specified in the state constitution. Violating this oath would result in immediate dismissal from their role. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2027, with no new state funding needed.
This constitutional amendment would require all voters in New Hampshire to be legal residents aged 18 or older who actually live in the community they claim as their home (domicile). It replaces the current "inhabitant" standard with this new requirement, ensuring voters reside where they register to vote. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election. It does not change existing restrictions like felony convictions or voting accessibility rules.
HB 1133 defines "livestock guardian dogs" (LGDs) as dogs specifically trained to protect livestock from predators while kept primarily with livestock. It requires owners to register LGDs annually with town or city clerks, provide a signed statement confirming their purpose, and may need to verify livestock ownership. The bill allows LGDs to run at large under specific conditions (minimum land requirements, registration, training, and no nuisance behavior) but prohibits them from trespassing. It establishes penalties for excessive barking (e.g., $150 for second violation, $500 for third), defining excessive barking as lasting over 10 minutes without predator activity or interfering with neighbors. This directly affects farmers using LGDs, modifying nuisance laws to accommodate their operational needs while protecting neighbors from disruptions.
HB 1519 changes the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire's Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General from 65 to 64 years. It also modifies the Adjutant General's term of office to end after 6 years or upon reaching age 64 (previously ending only at age 65). The bill does not alter existing service requirements (e.g., 5 years in the National Guard) or rank qualifications (colonel for Adjutant General, major for Deputy). These changes directly affect the state's top military leadership positions within the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services.
CACR 17 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how New Hampshire's insurance commissioner is selected. Currently appointed by the governor, the commissioner would instead be elected by qualified voters at every two-year general election starting in 2028. The amendment specifies a two-year term and maintains the commissioner's existing duties, including enforcing state insurance laws. This change requires voter approval in the November 2026 election to take effect.
HB 1506 creates a process for New Hampshire state agencies to request exceptions to current restrictions on artificial intelligence use. It requires agency heads to submit written requests specifying their purpose for needing the exception, which must first be reviewed by the Department of Information Technology and then approved by the Executive Council. This bill directly affects state agencies seeking to use AI for specific purposes beyond existing prohibitions, without changing the core restrictions on AI applications.
This constitutional amendment would raise the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire judges from 70 to 75 years. Currently, judges must retire upon reaching age 70, but the change would allow them to serve until age 75. The proposal requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election to take effect, as it amends the state constitution. It directly affects current and future judges who would no longer be required to retire at 70.
