SB 593 New Hampshire Senate · 2026 Regular Session

enabling the use of solid waste management funds by solid waste management districts.

SB 593 clarifies that landfill expansions (adding capacity to existing permitted sites) require approval solely from New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services, overriding local zoning rules. It mandates landfill operators expanding capacity to pay host municipalities at least $2.50 per ton of waste received. For new landfills not on existing sites, the bill requires visual impact assessments within one mile of homes and analysis of benefits/impacts on regional land uses. This directly affects landfill operators, host communities, and municipalities near proposed landfill sites.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Nov 25, 2025 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Version adopted by both bodies → CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION · 3 edits

MINOR

The changes from the adopted version to the chaptered final version are entirely technical and formatting-related. The bill was assigned Chapter 42, sections were renumbered with the chapter prefix (42:1, 42:2, 42:3), the fiscal note was removed (standard for enacted law), and approval/effective dates were added. No substantive policy changes were made.

TECHNICAL

Bill was assigned Chapter 42 and sections were renumbered from sequential numbers (1, 2, 3) to chapter-prefixed numbers (42:1, 42:2, 42:3), which is the standard process when a bill is enrolled as law.

The fiscal note and agencies contacted section were removed from the final version, which is standard practice since these are legislative process documents not part of enacted law.

TIMELINE

Approval date (May 08, 2026) and effective date (May 08, 2026) were added to the final version, confirming the bill takes effect immediately upon approval.

Introduced → As Amended by the Senate · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten between versions. The introduced version regulated landfill expansions by giving the state department exclusive permitting authority over them, preempting local zoning, and setting requirements for new non-expansion landfills. The amended version instead allows solid waste management districts (in addition to municipalities) to receive quarterly payments from the Solid Waste Management Fund to offset the solid waste disposal surcharge they pay based on waste tonnage.

Scope change

The bill's entire subject matter changed from regulating landfill expansions (siting authority, host community fees, environmental setbacks, visual impact assessments) to enabling solid waste management districts to access the Solid Waste Management Fund for reimbursement of disposal surcharges.

SCOPE

All provisions about landfill expansions were removed, including: the definition of 'landfill expansion,' exclusive state permitting authority over expansions (preempting local zoning), a $2.50-per-ton minimum host community fee for waste received in expansions, site-specific groundwater setback requirements for new non-expansion landfills, and visual impact assessment requirements for new landfill applications.

ELIGIBILITY

Solid waste management districts established under RSA 53-B are now eligible to receive quarterly payments from the Solid Waste Management Fund, in addition to municipalities. Previously only municipalities could receive these payments.

FISCAL

The fund will provide quarterly payments to municipalities or solid waste management districts for source reduction and recycling efforts, offsetting the solid waste disposal surcharge based on tonnage of waste for which they were financially responsible at NH landfills, incinerators, or waste-to-energy facilities.

REQUIREMENT

For solid waste management districts, payments are limited to only the amount of surcharge paid for waste generated by New Hampshire municipalities within that district (not waste from out-of-state sources).

TECHNICAL

The department's rulemaking authority under RSA 149-R:6 was expanded to cover payment timing, amount, and manner for both municipalities and solid waste management districts, as well as certified reports required from both types of entities requesting payments.

TIMELINE

An effective date of January 1, 2027 was added.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor on 05/08/2026; Chapter 42; Effective 05/08/2026

upper

May 7, 2026

Introduced

Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1592h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 55

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/14/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC)

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Full Committee Work Session: 04/14/2026 01:30 pm GP 153

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 9 P. 55

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1215s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Amendment # 2026-1215s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1215s, 03/26/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Hearing: 03/17/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am, on proposed non-germane amendment # 2026-1168s; SC 10

upper

Nov 25, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors