This bill changes how towns regulate manufactured homes. It requires municipalities to allow siting on residential lots with the same zoning rules as single-family homes (not just in parks), and mandates "reasonable efforts" to accommodate them. Existing manufactured housing parks must follow NFPA 501A fire safety standards for expansions. It also allows disaster victims to temporarily live in manufactured homes on their property for 30 days after a building permit is issued, while rebuilding their primary residence.
HB 1041 repeals a law that previously prohibited car manufacturers from operating dealerships in the same market areas as their franchised dealers. This change allows manufacturers to directly own and operate dealerships competing with franchise dealers in the same geographic regions. The bill directly affects car manufacturers, existing franchise dealers, and consumers who purchase vehicles in New Hampshire. It takes effect on June 30, 2026, removing a long-standing restriction on manufacturer dealership operations.
This House Resolution (HR 41) directs the New Hampshire House of Representatives to investigate whether grounds exist to impeach Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill. It specifically cites her alleged use of official resources - like government email and office authority - to recruit plaintiffs and refer them to a partisan law firm opposing the state's election laws, potentially breaching her duty to act as a fiscal watchdog. The resolution authorizes the Judiciary Committee to subpoena witnesses and documents to examine if her conduct constitutes "malpractice" or "maladministration" under the state constitution. This is a procedural step to determine if formal impeachment proceedings should begin, not a policy change.
HB 1166 restricts the contents of New Hampshire's budget trailer bill, prohibiting any statutory changes not explicitly required to implement the biennial budget. It requires that every line item in the trailer bill must reference the specific budget bill line item it supports. This bill applies to the governor's submission of the trailer bill and subsequent legislative amendments, ensuring all changes directly relate to budget implementation. The law mandates the trailer bill be publicly posted on the Department of Administrative Services' website upon submission. This is a procedural change affecting budget document formatting, not substantive policy.
HB 1241 changes how courts calculate income for divorce-related support orders. It defines "gross income" to include only regular earnings from a parent's primary job (wages, salary, or primary self-employment), explicitly excluding overtime pay, secondary job earnings, and other income from outside sources. This applies to both alimony (RSA 458:19) and child support (RSA 458-C:2) calculations. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting divorcing parents and courts determining financial obligations.
HB 1174 requires all bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and state liquor outlets to display a visible sign stating: "According to the Surgeon General, drinking alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk and women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects." The sign must be placed prominently in a contrasting color on the premises. This applies to both on-premises (e.g., bars) and off-premises (e.g., grocery store liquor counters) licensees, as well as state liquor stores. The law takes effect 60 days after passage and has a minimal fiscal impact under $10,000 annually.
CACR 24 proposes adding a constitutional right for parents and legal guardians to direct their children's education in New Hampshire. If approved by voters in 2026, it would insert a new Article 2-c into the state constitution stating this right cannot be violated. The amendment requires a 2/3 vote in favor at the 2026 general election to take effect. It directly affects parents/guardians by establishing a constitutional basis for their authority over educational decisions, without specifying curriculum or school policies. This is a procedural constitutional amendment requiring voter approval, not an immediate law.
HB 1687 removes the authority of New Hampshire's family division courts to issue criminal penalties, judgments, or determinations in cases they handle. The bill specifically prohibits these courts from imposing criminal sanctions (like fines or jail time) for matters within their jurisdiction, such as family-related cases. Instead, criminal matters must now be handled exclusively by superior courts, as outlined in RSA 592-A:1. This change ensures family courts remain focused on civil matters like custody disputes, while criminal penalties are reserved for appropriate judicial bodies. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 1532 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to establish rules defining the maximum temperature for vape heating coils and mandating safety features to prevent overheating ("dry hits"). This bill directly affects vape product manufacturers, who must comply with these future safety standards. The key mechanism is the creation of regulatory rules by the Department, not the immediate imposition of specific temperature limits. The bill focuses on preventing overheating incidents through mandatory safety features in vape devices. (3 sentences)
HB 1339 prohibits retail businesses from refusing to sell goods or services solely because a customer wants to pay with cash. It requires all retail establishments to accept legal tender (cash) when offered, eliminating policies that force customers to use credit cards. The law directly affects retailers selling physical goods or services to consumers, ensuring cash buyers cannot be denied transactions. This is a concrete policy change that mandates equal treatment of cash payments alongside other payment methods.
HB 1591 requires the New Hampshire Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to release court-ordered funds held in escrow within 30 days of a final, non-appealable court order. This directly affects individuals or entities entitled to such funds, such as plaintiffs in lawsuits or settlement recipients. Key provisions include imposing interest on delayed disbursements, allowing recovery of attorney fees for noncompliance, and mandating annual public reports listing funds held beyond the 30-day deadline. The bill also applies retroactively to delays occurring in the past five years, with claimants having 18 months from the bill’s effective date to seek remedies.
HB 1439 modifies penalties for New Hampshire retirement system retirees who exceed part-time work hour limits. It replaces full annuity suspensions with proportional reductions based on excess earnings, spread over 12 months. Retirees may avoid penalties by demonstrating good faith (e.g., relying on employer reporting errors), and full suspension is limited to willful, repeated violations or failure to cooperate with system inquiries. The bill directly affects retirees working part-time while receiving state retirement benefits.
