HB 631 New Hampshire House · 2025 Regular Session

permitting residential building in commercial zoning.

HB 631 allows residential buildings to be constructed in areas currently zoned exclusively for commercial use. This change directly affects property owners, developers, and future residents in commercial zones who may now build homes or apartments. The key provision amends zoning rules to permit residential use without requiring separate rezoning for each property. The bill became law on July 15, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Bill status signed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Failed
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed Jul 22, 2025
Floor votes · House Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

64121
Failed · 36 other
Total votes 221
Mar 20, 2025
D Democratic106
9 Yea 76 Nay 21
71% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican113
54 Yea 45 Nay 14
47% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Jul 22, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 201; eff. 07/01/2026 HJ 18
lower
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/08/2025, Vote 5-1; SC 20
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (64-121-36)
house
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667h: MA DV 204-134 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 96
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT): AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 93
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT) 03/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Full Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 3 P. 19
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors