HB 1738 New Hampshire House · 2026 Regular Session

relative to ratepayer benefits from the regional greenhouse gas initiative and relative to energy procurement and nuclear regulatory duties.

HB 1738 reduces New Hampshire's annual carbon dioxide emissions budget allowances for 2027-2030 and beyond, lowering the total from previous levels (e.g., to 2,993,220 allowances for 2027). It establishes cost containment triggers: if auction prices reach $19.50 or higher in 2027, the state must release additional allowances to prevent excessive price spikes. This directly affects electricity generators (who must purchase allowances) and ratepayers (who pay for these allowances through utility bills). The bill also simplifies the program by repealing outdated definitions related to banked allowances.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Dec 17, 2025 Signed Jul 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill finalizes changes to New Hampshire's carbon emissions trading program and nuclear regulatory duties. It updates the specific number of emissions allowances available for 2027-2030 to lower levels, establishes new price triggers for releasing extra allowances to control costs, and modifies the timeline for utilities to issue requests for energy procurement agreements.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and nuclear energy regulation, but the specific numerical limits and operational timelines have been adjusted.
TIMELINE

The deadline for electric distribution utilities to issue requests for proposals for multi-year energy agreements has been extended.

REQUIREMENT

The specific number of carbon dioxide emissions allowances allocated for the years 2027 through 2030 has been reduced from the previous version.

New price thresholds have been set to trigger the release of additional 'cost containment' allowances when auction prices reach specific levels.

DEFINITION

The text clarifies the definition of 'RGGI allowance' to explicitly include budget, offset, and early reduction allowances.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
16
Committee
15
Amendments
4
Jul 20, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 332; eff. 09/13/2026
lower
Jun 23, 2026
Introduced
Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2190e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
lower
Jun 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2190e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
upper
Jun 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report 2026-2069c: Adopted, VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15 P. 15
lower
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report # 2026-2069c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
upper
May 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2069c; 06/04/2026
upper
May 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 09:30 am GP 228
lower
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Sen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
upper
May 19, 2026
Introduced
House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1931s (Reps. Vose, Janigian): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 150
lower
May 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1931s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
upper
May 14, 2026
Introduced
Sen. Watters Floor Amendment # 2026-1931s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
upper
May 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-1735s, AF, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
upper
May 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1735s, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-1; SC 18
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1735s, 05/07/2026, Vote 3-1; SC 17
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 4
lower
Mar 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/02/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC)
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Full Committee Work Session: 03/02/2026 11:00 am GP 159
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 67
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 67
lower
Feb 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/27/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 6 P. 20
lower
Dec 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 33
lower
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

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