Environment

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1621: requiring a baseline environmental impact study to be completed prior to development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities.

HB 1621 requires developers to complete a baseline environmental study before building or expanding manufacturing or storage facilities larger than 50,000 square feet. The study must assess current environmental conditions - including water, air, soil, noise, and light - and analyze potential impacts, mitigation measures, and alternatives. Applicants must fund the study, conducted by approved professionals, and resubmit it for ownership changes or facility use modifications. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services must review the study and make it publicly available with a 30-day comment period before issuing permits. This applies specifically to industrial-scale facilities, not smaller operations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates pre-development environmental impact studies for large facilities, requiring assessment of water, air, soil, and mitigation measures to prevent ecological harm.95% confidence

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1275: relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".

HB 1275 establishes a New Hampshire agricultural PFAS relief fund to assist farmers who have incurred losses or costs due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in soil, water, or crops from standard farming practices like land application of sludge or biosolids. The fund, financed by settlements against PFAS manufacturers, federal grants, and other sources, covers expenses including soil/water testing, water filtration systems, business adaptation costs, and health screenings for farm workers. The bill also imposes a 5-year moratorium on using sludge or biosolids for agricultural purposes to prevent further contamination. Priority for fund distribution is given to farms with historical sludge use and those currently used for agriculture.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates PFAS relief fund for agricultural contamination, covering pollution-related costs like soil testing and filtration systems, directly addressing environmental pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 21, 2026

SB 443: relative to wastewater engineering.

SB 443 gives New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services new authority to create rules for reviewing and approving wastewater infrastructure plans, including sewer connection permits. It directly affects municipalities and sewer utility districts that must submit plans for new or upgraded sewage systems. Key provisions require the department to review industrial discharge permits (if not under EPA-approved programs) and set standards for sewer connection permits. The bill updates existing law to formalize these review processes and ensure proper design and operation of wastewater facilities. It does not change funding or impose new costs but establishes a structured permitting framework for wastewater projects.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes new environmental regulations for wastewater infrastructure review and discharge permits, strengthening pollution control standards per DEP authority.90% confidence

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 17, 2026

SB 592: enabling regional, conservation, and energy resource planning for habitat strongholds and wildlife corridors and creating a commission to study transferring ownership of the Winnipesaukee River Basin program to an alternative authority.

SB 592 requires New Hampshire municipalities and regional planning commissions to explicitly include habitat strongholds and wildlife corridors in their regional conservation, land-use, and energy planning. Conservation commissions must now maintain an index of these natural areas within their communities, and regional commissions must consider them in comprehensive regional plans covering land use, transportation, recreation, and infrastructure. The bill uses existing definitions for habitat strongholds (RSA 207:1, XIII-a) and wildlife corridors (RSA 207:1, XXXVI) without creating new protected areas. This change affects all municipalities and regional planning bodies statewide, ensuring these natural features are factored into development decisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates inclusion of habitat strongholds/wildlife corridors in land-use and conservation planning, directly advancing habitat protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires wildlife corridors consideration in transportation planning, promoting sustainable infrastructure integration85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

passed · New Hampshire · House May 14, 2026

HB 1128: restricting the use of weather modification technologies to declared emergencies.

HB 1128 restricts weather modification activities like cloud seeding to only situations where the governor declares a state of emergency for a catastrophic drought. This requires the drought to pose significant risks to water supply, agriculture, public health, or economic stability, with the declaration published publicly per state law. Before any weather modification occurs, the state must complete a 14-day environmental review and provide public notice in at least four newspapers and online, disclosing the chemicals used, potential health/wildlife impacts, and funding sources. The bill ensures such activities are limited to extreme emergencies with transparency and environmental safeguards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires environmental review before weather modification, strengthening oversight to protect ecosystems during drought emergencies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 493: relative to cyanobacteria and other emerging environmental water quality issues.

SB 493 allows New Hampshire village districts to create special funds and partner with towns to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) and water quality issues. It enables villages to jointly fund projects like erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment through shared agreements and access state/federal grants (e.g., RSA 487:15-25). Village districts managing affected water bodies would directly use these provisions to implement mitigation efforts, with funds limited to 1% of annual budgets for unanticipated expenses. The bill focuses on practical tools for local action, not new environmental standards.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enables funding for erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria), directly targeting pollution control and water quality protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1666: requiring capacity planning in the state 10-year energy strategy.

HB 1666 requires New Hampshire’s 10-year energy strategy to include two new elements: (1) electric capacity planning for emerging sectors like housing, transportation, technology, and data centers, with expert consultations every 3 years; and (2) analysis of demand-side measures (such as efficiency, conservation, and load management) to cost-effectively meet energy needs. The bill directly affects the state’s energy planning process and the Department of Energy, which must update the strategy accordingly. It does not provide new funding or change existing energy infrastructure requirements. The changes aim to align long-term planning with evolving energy demands without specifying new construction or operational mandates.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires analysis of efficiency, conservation, and load management in energy strategy, promoting cost-effective energy use and demand-side measures.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates conservation and efficiency analysis in energy planning, directly advancing resource conservation and pollution reduction through demand-side measures.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly requires transportation to be included in energy capacity planning, addressing its energy needs as a sector.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 1738: relative to ratepayer benefits from the regional greenhouse gas initiative and relative to energy procurement and nuclear regulatory duties.

HB 1738 reduces New Hampshire's annual carbon dioxide emissions budget allowances for 2027-2030 and beyond, lowering the total from previous levels (e.g., to 2,993,220 allowances for 2027). It establishes cost containment triggers: if auction prices reach $19.50 or higher in 2027, the state must release additional allowances to prevent excessive price spikes. This directly affects electricity generators (who must purchase allowances) and ratepayers (who pay for these allowances through utility bills). The bill also simplifies the program by repealing outdated definitions related to banked allowances.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyReduces emissions allowances under RGGI, tightening carbon caps to advance clean energy transition while adding cost safeguards for ratepayers.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces CO2 emissions budget allowances for 2027-2030, directly lowering allowable emissions and aligning with climate protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Utility Regulation Climate Change

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 1273: enabling municipal support and incentives for residential flood resilience improvements.

HB 1273 creates "Flood Resilience Incentive Zones" (FRIZ) to help homeowners in flood-prone areas make resilience improvements. It allows municipalities to offer tax credits (minimum $100 annually), property tax relief, and low-cost loans for qualifying projects like elevating homes, installing flood barriers, using natural water management systems (e.g., bioswales), or upgrading electrical systems to reduce flood damage. Municipalities can also collect a fee of up to $0.50 per $1,000 property value to fund these initiatives through revolving funds. The bill directly affects residential property owners in designated FRIZ areas and gives local governments new tools to support flood mitigation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly creates tax credits ($100+ annually) and property tax relief for homeowners, directly providing tax relief as a support indicator.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes natural water management systems (bioswales) and flood resilience, aligning with environmental conservation and pollution control.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Coastal & Flood Protection

Track

passed · New Hampshire · House May 7, 2026

HB 1478: requiring the department of environmental services to revise the rules for proposed new landfills.

HB 1478 requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services to revise rules for new landfills to better protect public health and the environment. The bill mandates that new landfills must maintain a minimum 1,500-foot setback from drinking water wells, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, calculated using a specific groundwater travel distance method. This method requires applicants to hire independent hydrogeologists to test groundwater velocity and ensure contamination cannot reach water sources within five years. The rule changes directly affect landfill applicants and the Department, replacing current rules deemed insufficiently protective of water resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 1,500-foot landfill setbacks from water sources and independent hydrogeological testing to protect public health/environment per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Drinking Water Waste Management

Track