HB 1499 would expand eviction grounds under New Hampshire's landlord and tenant law by adding three specific conditions: (1) a tenant or occupant being unlawfully present in the U.S., (2) a recent conviction (within 3 years) for certain violent crimes or drug offenses, or (3) being a registered sexual offender under state law. This bill directly affects tenants who meet these criteria, allowing landlords to seek eviction based on these new grounds. The key provision modifies the existing statute to include these three categories as valid reasons for termination of tenancy. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage and does not require new state funding.
HB 1405 establishes a program allowing New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority to guarantee up to 80% of loans for affordable housing projects. This reduces risk for lenders financing housing where costs (rent/mortgage plus utilities/taxes) do not exceed 30% of residents' income, defined as 50-80% of state median income. The program limits annual guarantees to $30 million per lender and $300 million total statewide. It directly affects lenders, housing developers, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable homes.
HB 1464 defines "political affiliation or opinion" to include First Amendment-protected activities like supporting political parties or candidates. It prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on political views, and bans politically motivated harassment or economic interference (such as doxxing to cause job loss). The bill creates new criminal penalties: class A misdemeanors for harassment targeting political views, and class B felonies if economic harm or threats of violence occur. It directly affects workers, businesses, and anyone facing political harassment, expanding existing anti-discrimination laws to cover political expression.
SB 508 requires all grounds for appealing zoning board decisions to be stated in the initial appeal notice, directly affecting applicants, municipalities, and planning boards. It adds a new provision mandating that cities and towns must stamp and accept revised zoning plans within 3 business days of submission, provided the revisions address specific comments from the initial review. The bill also limits applicants to one revision round unless original comments were unaddressed, preventing repeated requests for changes beyond the initial review conditions. These changes aim to streamline the zoning approval process by setting clear timelines and revision limits. The bill applies to all municipalities in New Hampshire with zoning boards of adjustments.
HB 1553 limits landlords to charging no more than 1% of a unit’s monthly rent for pet-related fees, regardless of how many pets a tenant keeps. It bans nonrefundable pet fees entirely, affecting tenants with companion animals and landlords who previously charged such fees. Exceptions include service animals under disability law and charges for actual damage caused by a pet. Tenants can sue landlords who violate these rules and recover damages plus legal costs.
HB 1540 establishes statewide rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allowing one ADU per single-family home as a matter of right in most zoning districts without extra lot size or design requirements beyond those for the main home. In protected shoreland areas, municipalities may permit ADUs as a matter of right or through conditional permits, and they can choose to allow detached units if they meet specific environmental and zoning standards. The bill prohibits multiple ADUs per home, ADUs in townhouses (attached multi-family properties), ADUs on rented land, and separate sales of ADUs from the main house without municipal approval. It provides municipalities with clear guidance for zoning, permitting, and environmental protections related to ADUs while standardizing requirements across the state.
HB 1525 requires New Hampshire municipalities to permit at least two unrelated people per bedroom in single-family homes located within areas zoned for multi-family residential use. This change applies specifically to single-family dwellings on individual lots in multi-family zones, without altering state building or fire safety codes. The bill defines a "bedroom" as any room primarily intended for sleeping, even if used for other purposes, and clarifies that local regulations cannot override this occupancy standard. It directly affects homeowners, renters, and local governments by expanding housing flexibility in designated multi-family zones.
HB 1619 establishes new protections for property owners by prohibiting rent controls, limiting municipal zoning authority to basic health/safety needs, and requiring prompt permit processing. It repeals the InvestNH Program (which provided grants for affordable housing) and the New Hampshire Housing Champion designation. The bill prohibits government takings for private development without just compensation and bans municipal subsidies for specific housing types. These changes directly affect property owners, municipalities, and housing developers by reducing government regulation in housing markets.
HB 1625 requires New Hampshire's Office of Planning and Development to produce an annual report on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), including data on their type (attached/detached), occupancy (owner, tenant, vacant), use as short-term rentals, affordability status, and conversions from existing structures. The report must include specific metrics to help state and local governments plan for housing growth and development. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change ADU construction rules or funding requirements. The state anticipates the reporting system will require new staff and cost between $100,000 and $500,000 annually.
HB 1196 repeals New Hampshire's Housing Champion Designation and Grant Program, which provided financial incentives and recognition to municipalities for adopting housing-friendly policies. The bill ends the state's authority to issue new grants or designations under this program, affecting participating municipalities and the Department of Business and Economic Affairs that administered it. Existing contracts (worth approximately $2.6 million) will be honored until June 2027, but no new funding or recognition will be provided after the bill's effective date. The repeal also eliminates the Housing Champion Program Fund and the associated advisory committee.
