relative to the administrative procedure act.
SB 486 clarifies key definitions in New Hampshire's rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act. It updates terms like "form" (requiring blank spaces for public use, not just agency-labeled documents) and "final legislative action" (defining when rulemaking fails). These changes affect state agencies creating rules and the public interacting with them during rulemaking. The bill makes procedural language clearer without altering substantive rulemaking requirements. It is a technical clarification to the existing Administrative Procedure Act.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Jan 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Nov 21, 2025
Signed Jul 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Version adopted by both bodies
→
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION
·
3 edits
MINOR
The changes between these two versions are entirely technical and formatting-related, reflecting the transition from a bill to an enacted chapter of law. Section numbers were renumbered from sequential (1, 2, 3...) to chapter-based format (254:1, 254:2, 254:3...), and headers were updated to reflect the new 'Chapter 254' designation. No substantive policy language was added, removed, or modified.
TECHNICAL
Section numbers changed from sequential numbering (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) to chapter-based numbering (254:1, 254:2, 254:3, 254:4, 254:5), which is standard when a bill is enrolled and assigned a chapter number upon becoming law.
Document headers changed from 'SB 486 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES' to 'CHAPTER 254 / SB 486 - FINAL VERSION', reflecting the bill's status as enacted legislation.
Minor spacing and alignment adjustments throughout the document, including reflowed line breaks and adjusted indentation in the sponsors list and body text.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Jul 9, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 254; Effective 01/01/2027
upper
May 14, 2026
Introduced
Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
upper
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1747h: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 10
lower
May 7, 2026
Introduced
Amendment # 2026-1747h: AA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 10
lower
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1747h 04/29/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 18 P. 8
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 124
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-0059s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0059s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
upper
Jan 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0059s, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
upper
Nov 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 486
Scope: NH
Hi! I can help you understand SB 486. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline