Transportation

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 617: relative to the regulation and appeal of motor vehicle towing from public highways and relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.

SB 617 requires the New Hampshire State Police to use a rotating list of qualified tow companies for removing abandoned, stolen, disabled, or illegally parked vehicles. The bill mandates that the State Police maintain this list by geographic area (e.g., troop or county) and vehicle type (such as heavy or light-duty tow trucks) to ensure appropriate service for each removal. The list can be adjusted to manage workload and travel distances, and it will specify which tow companies are equipped for specific vehicle classes. This change applies to all vehicle removals conducted under state law, including those obstructing roads, abandoned on private property, or involved in accidents.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill improves road safety and efficiency by standardizing abandoned vehicle removal and preventing license suspensions for towing debt.85% confidence

signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 5, 2026

HB 1051: modifying the procedures and requirements for school bus driver criminal history records checks and expanding the personnel subject to such checks.

HB 1051 establishes a commission to study whether New Hampshire should create a centralized statewide database for fingerprinting and background checks. The commission, composed of two House members, one Senate member, and state agency representatives (including from safety, education, and licensing), will examine current check practices, assess costs, review other states' systems, and determine the best agency to manage such a database. It must report its findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026, without creating the database itself. The bill only sets up a study to inform future decisions, not to change current laws or practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety by expanding background checks for school personnel, protecting educational environment and access.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by improving background checks for school bus drivers, a key component of public transit safety.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Public Transit

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 39: relative to establishing an alternative driver education program.

SB 39 establishes an alternative driver education program for New Hampshire teens under 18 seeking a license. Instead of traditional classroom and driving school, participants must complete 40 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours at night), pass a vision and knowledge test, and finish a state-approved driver training program. The commissioner of safety will develop rules for this program, which takes effect January 1, 2026. This option provides a new pathway to license eligibility for young drivers, directly affecting those choosing this alternative over standard requirements.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes safety-focused driver education program with supervised driving requirements, aligning with transportation safety indicators in topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 533: relative to the use of civilian employees in commercial truck inspections.

HB 533 authorizes New Hampshire's state police to use civilian automotive equipment inspectors (instead of only sworn officers) for commercial truck safety inspections. It also allows certified law enforcement agents to enter trucking company premises during business hours to review safety records for compliance checks, audits, or investigations. The bill directly affects commercial carriers required to maintain these safety records. Requested by the Department of Safety, it updates how inspections and record reviews are conducted under state law.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes civilian inspectors for commercial truck safety checks, strengthening enforcement of commercial vehicle safety standards per Department of Safety request.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Freight

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1178: relative to permissible window tinting on motor vehicles.

HB 1178 allows vehicle owners in New Hampshire to install aftermarket tinting on front side windows (left and right of the driver) if the tint permits at least 35% of light to pass through. It also creates a medical exemption, enabling individuals with qualifying health conditions to apply for a waiver permitting darker tint, provided they submit medical certification from a licensed provider and the tint still meets the 35% standard. The commissioner of safety will establish testing procedures and review waiver applications, including consulting a medical review board if needed. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes safety standard for vehicle window tinting (35% light pass-through), enhancing visibility and road safety under transportation vehicle regulations.95% confidence

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 618: relative to the penalties for repeat speeding offenders.

SB 618 requires drivers with repeated speeding violations - such as those suspended for excessive speeding (over 100 mph on highways or 50+ mph over limits on other roads) or multiple tickets - to install a GPS-based speed-limiting device (called an "intelligent speed assistance" or ISA device) as a condition for regaining their driver’s license. The device must actively prevent speeding by restricting vehicle speed to posted limits and cannot be tampered with, with data shared only under strict court or legal requirements. Offenders must pay for the device unless they qualify for affordability programs (e.g., low-income status via TANF, SNAP, or 150% of federal poverty level), and the device must remain active for at least 12 months after license reinstatement. This bill directly affects repeat speeding offenders in New Hampshire, focusing on behavioral correction through technology rather than new fines or jail time.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates speed-limiting devices for repeat offenders to prevent speeding, directly enhancing road safety standards under transportation regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 152: authorizing the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects.

SB 152 authorizes the sale of turnpike toll credits to create a dedicated "noise barrier construction fund" for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to design and build highway noise barriers meeting specific federal criteria. The fund would receive revenue from selling up to $10 million annually in toll credits, subject to federal match requirements and legislative approvals, with funds restricted solely for noise barrier projects. NHDOT must follow established guidelines for Type II noise barriers and consult affected communities on project eligibility. The bill's fiscal impact is indeterminable, as the Department of Transportation notes no existing market or federal authority for toll credit sales, making implementation uncertain.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds highway noise barrier construction via dedicated toll credit revenue, directly advancing transportation infrastructure as per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 49: relative to the unlawful operation or use of unmanned aircraft systems.

SB 49 creates new criminal penalties for the unlawful operation of small drones (unmanned aircraft systems) in New Hampshire. It makes it a misdemeanor to interfere with emergency services (like police or fire response) or airport operations, and increases penalties to a felony if drone use causes damage to aircraft, disrupts flights, or delivers contraband into correctional facilities. The bill also prohibits possessing or operating drones equipped to cause harm (e.g., firing projectiles), with exemptions for bomb squads and law enforcement using drones for safety purposes. These rules apply to anyone operating small drones, effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill prohibits drone interference with airport operations, protecting transportation infrastructure (airports) from disruption and safety threats.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Airports

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 155: relative to highway toll credits.

SB 155 allows municipalities, counties, and non-profit organizations to use toll credits as their local funding match for federally funded highway and road projects, including the Nashua-Manchester-Concord project. This eliminates the need for legislative approval for these specific projects, as long as federal rules permit toll credits. For other uses of toll credits, the bill requires prior approval from the joint legislative capital project committee. The fiscal note estimates this change would reduce annual toll credit balances by approximately $20 million, as toll credits would replace local matching funds previously required for projects.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables toll credits as local funding match for highway projects, facilitating infrastructure funding without legislative approval for specific federally funded road projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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vetoed · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 2026: relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan; relative to toll rate adjustments and periodic toll reviews for the New Hampshire turnpike system to support the 2027-2036 ten-year transportation plan; and relative to reconstruction of the Gregg Mill Road Bridge in the town of New Boston.

HB 2026 formally adopts New Hampshire's "State 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan 2027-2036," which was submitted by the governor under existing law. The bill directly affects state transportation planning by designating this specific plan as the official framework for the 2027-2036 decade. It requires the state to implement the projects outlined in the plan, encouraging timely action on transportation improvements. The bill does not create new funding or alter project details but legally endorses the governor's submitted plan as the state's roadmap.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFormally adopts NH's 10-year transportation plan, mandating implementation of outlined projects without altering funding or details.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Roads & Highways

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