Sign Up
HB 1539 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

authorizing electric utilities to issue AAA-rated bonds for the purpose of storm cost recovery and infrastructure resilience.

This bill allows New Hampshire electric utilities to recover storm-related repair costs by issuing special bonds (rated AAA) to finance infrastructure resilience. Utilities would apply to the Public Utilities Commission for approval to issue these bonds, which would be repaid through a small fee added to customers' electricity bills. The bill defines "storm costs" as prudently incurred expenses for storm preparation, restoration, and response, requiring Commission approval within 60 days. This mechanism aims to provide faster cost recovery while potentially keeping overall electricity rates lower than traditional rate-based recovery methods.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Dec 10, 2025 Signed Apr 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies → CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 3 edits
MINOR
The changes between the version adopted by both bodies and the final chaptered version are almost entirely formatting and numbering adjustments. The bill was renumbered from sequential paragraph numbers (1, 2, 3...) to chapter section numbers (25:1, 25:2, etc.) as is standard when a bill becomes law. A few minor punctuation fixes (adding Oxford commas) were made throughout.
TECHNICAL

All section references were renumbered from sequential numbers (e.g., '1 Declaration of Purpose') to chapter-based numbering (e.g., '25:1 New Paragraph; Declaration of Purpose'), which is the standard format for a final chaptered law.

Minor punctuation corrections: Oxford commas were added in a few places, such as changing 'fees, expenses and transaction costs' to 'fees, expenses, and transaction costs' and 'subparagraph (a), (b) or (c)' to 'subparagraph (a), (b), or (c).'

The chapter designation 'CHAPTER 25' was added to the header, identifying this as Chapter 25 of the 2026 session laws.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 17, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor Ayotte 04/15/2026; Chapter 25; eff. 04/15/2026
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-1127s, AF, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1127s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 5
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 112
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 102
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0409h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 102
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Amendment # 2026-0409h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 101
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0409h 02/03/2026 (Vote 18-0; RC) HC 7 P. 38
lower
Dec 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 25
lower
0 primary · 7 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.