HB 1260 allows couples to complete their marriage application worksheet (including personal details like names, birthplaces, and social security numbers) in advance, either online or offline, before their wedding. It requires both the bride and groom to sign this form in person at their town or city clerk's office. The bill also adds a $25 fee for filing a delayed marriage certificate (used when couples don’t receive their certificate immediately after the wedding), payable to the local clerk. This affects prospective married couples and town/city clerks handling marriage registrations. The changes aim to streamline the registration process while adding a small fee for delayed filings.
SB 534 requires campaign committees supporting constitutional amendments or local ballot questions to certify under penalty of perjury that no foreign national funded their activities or influenced decisions. It mandates that committees return foreign contributions within 10 business days and disgorge funds if violations are found, with committee leaders held personally liable. The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from directing or soliciting contributions for these campaigns. These rules apply to all committees and independent spenders involved in covered ballot measures, with records maintained for four years and certifications published online.
SB 564 prohibits municipalities from restricting maximum road length (as long as state fire code standards are met) or imposing numerical limits on housing lots in dead-end streets. It also requires municipalities to allow utilities (like septic systems and power lines) in designated open space or buffer areas of subdivisions, excluding wetlands and protected shoreland. The bill directly affects local governments and developers by removing specific development barriers that increase housing costs. It does not override fire code, environmental protections under RSA 482-A or RSA 483-B, or municipal authority to enforce health/safety standards.
SB 599 changes how leftover funds from electricity provider payments are used in New Hampshire's renewable energy fund. First, up to $1 million annually must cover administrative costs for the Department of Energy. Remaining funds must then support thermal and electrical renewable energy initiatives, but cannot be used for individual residential solar projects. Any leftover funds after these allocations are transferred to the state general fund. The bill applies to funds collected from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
SB 538 extends the net metering eligibility term to 20 years for municipal energy projects in New Hampshire, directly affecting cities and towns developing community-based renewable energy systems. The bill ensures these projects can continue receiving compensation under current or future utility tariffs for the longer of 20 years from their start date or until January 1, 2040, addressing delays that previously shortened project viability. Municipalities participating in group net metering under House Bill 315 (2021) can transition to new utility tariffs while maintaining their 20-year eligibility period. This change restores the financial viability of municipal projects by aligning with the original intent of 2021 legislation and preventing premature loss of net metering benefits.
HB 1332 designates the Honor and Remember Flag as an official New Hampshire symbol to honor service members who died while serving or as a result of military service, and their families. The bill requires the state governor to display this flag daily at the New Hampshire state veterans cemetery in Boscawen and at the State House, specifically on the last Sunday in September. It does not create a new holiday or change benefits but mandates a specific display protocol for state properties. The bill’s title references "Gold Star Mother's Day," but the actual policy focuses on the flag symbol, not the holiday. This is a procedural change affecting state display practices, effective 60 days after enactment.
HB 1269 updates New Hampshire's acupuncture licensing rules to make practice more accessible. It revises educational requirements to allow an associate's degree or 60 college credits instead of a bachelor's degree for licensure, and permits out-of-state practitioners with comparable qualifications to practice. The bill adds a certified acupuncture detoxification specialist to the licensing board and requires annual supervision via phone or electronic means (not in-person) for these specialists during their first two years of certification. These changes take effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1637 requires courts to schedule hearings on bail modification or revocation motions within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) in domestic violence, stalking, and harassment cases. Before any hearing can occur, the party filing the motion must provide the court with certified copies of the complaint, affidavit, warrant, bail slip, and related court orders. The bill also mandates that in cases where a district court has found a person poses a danger, the superior court must hold a hearing and issue written findings when reviewing bail changes. This law takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 1236 requires law enforcement to electronically record all police questioning of individuals in custody (custodial interrogations) in New Hampshire. Unrecorded statements from such interrogations would generally be excluded as evidence in criminal or juvenile court cases, unless police provide a documented, reasonable justification for not recording. The bill creates a clear rule: recordings must be complete, and unrecorded statements are inadmissible unless courts approve specific justifications. It takes effect January 1, 2027, impacting police departments, defendants, and courts.
HB 1765 allows New Hampshire wine and beverage manufacturers to offer tastings and sell products at expanded locations. It removes the requirement that wine manufacturer retail outlets must sell only the manufacturer's own products, enabling them to sell products from other qualifying manufacturers. Small beverage manufacturers (producing 15,000 barrels or less annually) can now distribute directly to retailers or other beverage manufacturers, with a 5,000-barrel annual sales limit for direct retail. The bill affects local wineries and small beverage producers by broadening sales opportunities, with potential state revenue increases of $10,000-$100,000 annually, though exact amounts remain uncertain.
HB 1576 modernizes New Hampshire's criminal restitution system by requiring annual financial reviews of offenders to ensure payments align with their current ability to pay. It mandates automatic payment increases when offenders gain income (e.g., raises, inheritances) and retroactively applies these changes, with victims notified immediately. The bill adds enforcement tools like wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and license suspension for nonpayment, plus interest and penalties for intentional avoidance. Victims must receive quarterly payment updates and written notice of any delays or enforcement actions, with restitution funds disbursed within 45 days of receipt. This directly affects offenders ordered to pay restitution, victims awaiting payments, and the Department of Corrections as the enforcement agency.
HB 1384 requires commercial litigation financiers to disclose certain information about their funding agreements for civil lawsuits. The bill defines "commercial litigation financing agreements" as third-party funding arrangements that create a financial interest in case proceeds, while excluding contingency fee agreements between lawyers and clients, health insurance arrangements, and standard loans. It also restricts funding from "foreign entities of concern" as defined by U.S. sanctions lists. The legislation aims to increase transparency around who is financing lawsuits and under what terms. This would affect law firms, claimants, and third-party financiers entering into such agreements.
