SB 447 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.

SB 447 allows New Hampshire electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear power as part of their energy mix, alongside renewable sources. It increases the annual capacity cap for low-income community solar projects from 6 MW to 18 MW and expands eligibility for group net metering to include public housing authorities. The bill also updates rules for customer generators, permitting members to join multiple group hosts under load limits, and clarifies processes for utilities to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) on long-term energy agreements. These changes aim to diversify energy sources, stabilize costs, and support community solar access while maintaining regulatory coordination with New England states.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Nov 21, 2025 Last action Apr 23, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 2 edits

MINOR

The Senate amendment makes two substantive policy changes to SB 447: it removes language that would have given the Nuclear Regulatory Commission authority to manage funding and oversee nuclear incentive programs, and it adds a new statutory definition for 'nonprofit educational institution' to support the municipal host solar definition. All other provisions (net metering threshold increase from 100 to 500 kW, community solar cap increase from 6 to 18 MW, purchased power agreement deadline extensions to 2040 and 2041, and advanced nuclear resource definition) remain unchanged from the introduced version.

SCOPE

Removed language stating that Nuclear Regulatory Commission activities 'may include the management of funding and oversight of nuclear incentive programs, such as those described by RSA 374-G:4.' The commission's role is now limited to outreach and public education on safety.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition (RSA 362-A:1-a, II-g) for 'nonprofit educational institution' meaning a nonpublic, nonprofit elementary, secondary, or post-secondary school approved by the state board of education or department of education, exempt under IRC section 501(c)(3), organized for direct instruction, and not distributing profits. This supports the municipal host definition that references nonprofit educational institutions as eligible political subdivisions.

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Full legislative history

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 15, 2026

Committee

Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/13/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC)

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 9 P. 54

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1213s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-1213s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1213s, 03/26/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 11

upper

Nov 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 1

upper

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors