HB 1810 imposes a $4 fee per ton (or equivalent) on bulk road salt, road salt mix, and brine sold in New Hampshire to fund certified winter road maintenance practices. The fee is collected annually by bulk sellers (e.g., suppliers to municipalities, businesses, or state agencies) and deposited into a dedicated road salt mitigation fund. Sellers must file annual returns with the Department of Revenue Administration, maintain sales records for three years, and provide receipts showing the fee paid. This policy directly affects road salt bulk sellers and ensures funds support certified winter road maintenance programs across the state.
SB 589 requires New Hampshire to create a task force studying electricity needs for interstate trucking charging stations, port electrification, and transmission corridors, with a report due by June 2027. It authorizes a pilot program for microgrid development at up to five locations to improve energy resilience, collaborating with utilities and businesses. The bill also mandates the Department of Energy to develop cybersecurity guidelines for distributed energy systems like solar and battery storage. These provisions directly affect state agencies, transportation infrastructure planners, port operators, and energy providers by setting new planning and safety requirements.
HB 1728 requires operators of critical infrastructure systems - such as water, power, emergency response, and public transportation networks serving over 10,000 people or 3,300 households in New Hampshire - to implement specific cybersecurity measures. The bill mandates strict firewall controls, phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication for remote access, and documented incident response plans to prevent foreseeable cyber risks. Operators who fail to meet this "standard of care" could face liability for harms caused by security failures. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and has no new funding requirements.
HB 1536 prohibits non-electric vehicles and non-motorcycles from parking in spaces specifically marked for electric vehicles (for charging), mopeds, or motorcycles. It requires clear, visible signage meeting standard traffic sign requirements and imposes a $62 minimum fine for violations, with 20% of the fine going to the local town or city where the parking occurred. The law applies to all designated spaces on both public and private property, directly affecting drivers who park in these spots without authorization. This creates a consistent penalty structure to prioritize access for EVs and motorcycles in designated parking areas.
HB 1537 allows school bus operators to install high-resolution cameras on stop bars (the flashing arms extending from school buses) to capture drivers who run school bus stop lights. The cameras must clearly identify faces, include digital timestamps and tamper-proof video markers, and only activate when stop bars are extended during student loading/unloading. Videos must be preserved for up to 4 years if injuries occur, but deleted after 7 days if unused for investigations. School bus operators may choose to install the cameras but are not required to do so.
HB 1294 sets a 45 mph speed limit on Route 125 in Brentwood, specifically between the Epping and Kingston town lines. It amends state law to establish this lower speed limit, requiring new signage and assigning primary enforcement responsibility to local police. The bill directly affects drivers using this segment of Route 125. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.
SB 627 proposes toll increases at specific New Hampshire turnpike plazas to fund projects in the 2027-2036 transportation plan, including $1.00 hikes at Hooksett Main, Hampton Main, and Bedford plazas, and $0.75 increases at Hampton Side Exit, Dover Spaulding, and Rochester plazas. It also establishes a new E-Z Pass discount allowing frequent users to pay for no more than 40 toll transactions per month. The bill authorizes the transfer of a portion of I-93 in Concord to the turnpike bureau for corridor improvements and expansion of the central New Hampshire turnpike. These changes directly affect drivers using NH turnpikes, particularly E-Z Pass users and commuters on I-93 routes.
SB 499 requires New Hampshire's Traffic Safety Commission to review and analyze data on the causes of traffic collisions. Starting in 2026, the Commission must include summarized data on collision causes in its annual reports to the governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. These reports will also include recommendations for addressing the identified causes. The bill directly affects the Commission's duties and reporting obligations, with changes taking effect January 1, 2027.
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.
SB 409 amends penalties for disobeying law enforcement officers during traffic stops or pursuits. It increases penalties for specific violations: disobeying orders to stop (subparagraph I(c)) now carries a class B felony if a motor vehicle accident causes serious injury, and a class A felony if the accident causes death or injury to another person. The bill directly affects drivers who refuse to comply with officers during traffic enforcement, particularly in situations involving collisions. These changes enhance criminal penalties for dangerous disobedience during pursuits, without adding new financial costs to state or local governments.
