This bill requires marital masters, arbitrators, mediators, and judicial referees in New Hampshire to first be commissioned as a justice of the peace to qualify for their positions. It mandates that these individuals renew their justice of the peace commission every five years through the standard application process and take an oath as specified in the state constitution. Violating this oath would result in immediate dismissal from their role. The requirement takes effect January 1, 2027, with no new state funding needed.
This constitutional amendment would require all voters in New Hampshire to be legal residents aged 18 or older who actually live in the community they claim as their home (domicile). It replaces the current "inhabitant" standard with this new requirement, ensuring voters reside where they register to vote. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election. It does not change existing restrictions like felony convictions or voting accessibility rules.
HB 1133 defines "livestock guardian dogs" (LGDs) as dogs specifically trained to protect livestock from predators while kept primarily with livestock. It requires owners to register LGDs annually with town or city clerks, provide a signed statement confirming their purpose, and may need to verify livestock ownership. The bill allows LGDs to run at large under specific conditions (minimum land requirements, registration, training, and no nuisance behavior) but prohibits them from trespassing. It establishes penalties for excessive barking (e.g., $150 for second violation, $500 for third), defining excessive barking as lasting over 10 minutes without predator activity or interfering with neighbors. This directly affects farmers using LGDs, modifying nuisance laws to accommodate their operational needs while protecting neighbors from disruptions.
HB 1519 changes the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire's Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General from 65 to 64 years. It also modifies the Adjutant General's term of office to end after 6 years or upon reaching age 64 (previously ending only at age 65). The bill does not alter existing service requirements (e.g., 5 years in the National Guard) or rank qualifications (colonel for Adjutant General, major for Deputy). These changes directly affect the state's top military leadership positions within the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services.
CACR 17 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how New Hampshire's insurance commissioner is selected. Currently appointed by the governor, the commissioner would instead be elected by qualified voters at every two-year general election starting in 2028. The amendment specifies a two-year term and maintains the commissioner's existing duties, including enforcing state insurance laws. This change requires voter approval in the November 2026 election to take effect.
HB 1506 creates a process for New Hampshire state agencies to request exceptions to current restrictions on artificial intelligence use. It requires agency heads to submit written requests specifying their purpose for needing the exception, which must first be reviewed by the Department of Information Technology and then approved by the Executive Council. This bill directly affects state agencies seeking to use AI for specific purposes beyond existing prohibitions, without changing the core restrictions on AI applications.
This constitutional amendment would raise the mandatory retirement age for New Hampshire judges from 70 to 75 years. Currently, judges must retire upon reaching age 70, but the change would allow them to serve until age 75. The proposal requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election to take effect, as it amends the state constitution. It directly affects current and future judges who would no longer be required to retire at 70.
HB 1005 repeals the commission established to study New Hampshire's zoning enabling act under RSA 674:23-a. The bill dissolves this specific statutory commission without altering any zoning laws or affecting residents, businesses, or local governments. This is a procedural change that removes the commission's legal existence, with no new policies or regulations implemented.
HB 1014 exempts certain retired members of New Hampshire's retirement system from a 28-day waiting period before taking part-time jobs. It specifically applies to retirees working in emergency services (like during declared emergencies or woodland fire control) and those who were already employed part-time with a different employer at the time of retirement. The bill modifies retirement law (RSA 100-A:7-b) to remove the waiting period for these scenarios while maintaining annual hour limits for part-time work. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1329 requires New Hampshire's Secretary of State to include voters' ages in the public voter file. This change directly affects political parties, political committees, and candidates for office, who can now request voter lists containing age data upon request. The bill amends existing law to add "age" to the list of information (alongside name, address, and party affiliation) that must be provided to these groups. The Secretary of State will continue to charge standard fees for these lists, with the new data becoming available 60 days after the bill's passage.
HB 1657 requires New Hampshire state agencies to identify and report all vacant full- or part-time positions (classified or unclassified) that have been unfilled for 90+ days. Agencies must submit detailed reports - including funding sources, vacancy duration, and position codes - to the joint committee on employee classification, the governor, legislative leaders, and the executive council. The bill also prohibits filling such vacancies without express approval from the governor and executive council. This procedural measure aims to address prolonged vacancies by mandating transparency and requiring higher-level authorization before filling long-open positions. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1486 prohibits New Hampshire insurance companies from increasing premiums or imposing other penalties based on the driving record of household members (like spouses) not covered under a motor vehicle insurance policy. It specifically prevents insurers from penalizing policyholders due to a spouse's DWI conviction, license suspension, or other driving violations unless that person is named on the policy. The bill makes any policy terms violating this provision void and unenforceable, while allowing insurers to consider the driving record of named insureds or listed drivers. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
