SB 508 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

relative to the zoning board of adjustments appeal period.

SB 508 requires all grounds for appealing zoning board decisions to be stated in the initial appeal notice, directly affecting applicants, municipalities, and planning boards. It adds a new provision mandating that cities and towns must stamp and accept revised zoning plans within 3 business days of submission, provided the revisions address specific comments from the initial review. The bill also limits applicants to one revision round unless original comments were unaddressed, preventing repeated requests for changes beyond the initial review conditions. These changes aim to streamline the zoning approval process by setting clear timelines and revision limits. The bill applies to all municipalities in New Hampshire with zoning boards of adjustments.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Failed
May 2026
Governor
Introduced Nov 21, 2025 Last action May 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced As Amended by the Senate · 1 edit
MINOR
The Senate amendment extended the deadline for municipalities to stamp and accept revised building plans from 3 business days to 10 business days. This gives local planning boards more time to process resubmitted plans after an initial review, likely reflecting a practical concern that 3 days was too short for small-town staff to complete the task.
TIMELINE

The deadline for cities, towns, or municipalities to stamp and accept revised plans submitted by an applicant was increased from 3 business days to 10 business days (Section 676:5-a, Paragraph I).

Floor votes · House May 14, 2026

How they voted

7995
Failed · 48 other
Total votes 222
May 14, 2026
D Democratic108
3 Yea 83 Nay 22
76% Nay
I Independent2
1 Yea 1
50% Yea
R Republican112
75 Yea 12 Nay 25
66% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
6
Committee
6
May 14, 2026
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (79-95-48)
house
May 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass: MF RC 151-161 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 110
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 05/05/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 19 P. 27
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 5 P. 124
lower
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment # 2026-0659s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0659s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0659s, 02/19/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 6
upper
Nov 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 1
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors