HB 1680 directs New Hampshire's Department of Transportation to improve Boston express bus service from Nashua, Manchester, and Londonderry. It requires increasing service frequency during peak commuting hours and late nights on Fridays/Saturdays, advocating for consistent federal/state funding, and allocating existing federal funds to expand this service. The bill mandates a report on service frequency, ridership, and impacts on workforce mobility and regional economic development, due November 1. Crucially, the bill does not provide new state funding but directs the use of existing transportation program resources.
SB 82 creates "Housing Opportunity Zones" in New Hampshire counties and municipalities to encourage affordable workforce housing development. It requires owner-occupancy (no rental by investors), mandates specific design features like slab foundations and front porches, and exempts the first property transfer from real estate transfer taxes. The bill proposes $20 million in state grants for infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) with limits of $1 million per municipality and $5 million per county, though no funding source is identified. It directly affects local governments that establish these zones and future homeowners who must live in the properties they purchase.
HB 1479 repeals the motor vehicle registration permit fee (RSA 261:153), which allowed municipalities to collect a fee on vehicle registrations. This bill removes the fee and updates related sections of the law to eliminate references to it. Municipalities will no longer be permitted to impose this specific registration fee on vehicle owners. The repeal becomes effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.
SB 627 proposes toll increases at specific New Hampshire turnpike plazas to fund projects in the 2027-2036 transportation plan, including $1.00 hikes at Hooksett Main, Hampton Main, and Bedford plazas, and $0.75 increases at Hampton Side Exit, Dover Spaulding, and Rochester plazas. It also establishes a new E-Z Pass discount allowing frequent users to pay for no more than 40 toll transactions per month. The bill authorizes the transfer of a portion of I-93 in Concord to the turnpike bureau for corridor improvements and expansion of the central New Hampshire turnpike. These changes directly affect drivers using NH turnpikes, particularly E-Z Pass users and commuters on I-93 routes.
SB 471 allows New Hampshire municipalities to impose fees on new developments (like subdivisions or buildings) that don’t meet local affordable housing requirements. These fees must be kept separate from general funds and spent *only* on affordable housing projects through specific entities like the NH Housing Finance Authority or local housing authorities. Fees are collected when planning approvals or building permits are issued, and municipalities must report annual spending. The bill requires fees to directly address local affordable housing needs without altering existing planning board authority.
HB 1196 repeals New Hampshire's Housing Champion Designation and Grant Program, which provided financial incentives and recognition to municipalities for adopting housing-friendly policies. The bill ends the state's authority to issue new grants or designations under this program, affecting participating municipalities and the Department of Business and Economic Affairs that administered it. Existing contracts (worth approximately $2.6 million) will be honored until June 2027, but no new funding or recognition will be provided after the bill's effective date. The repeal also eliminates the Housing Champion Program Fund and the associated advisory committee.
HB 1616 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (like cities and towns) from using public funds to advertise vaccines. It bans both direct advertising by these entities and payments to contractors for vaccine promotion. The law specifically targets spending from state or local budgets on vaccine-related advertising, including through federal immunization grants. This bill does not affect vaccine access, safety, or public health programs - only the use of public funds for promotional activities.
HB 1626 requires the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs to measure and report the return on investment (ROI) for tourism promotional programs exceeding $10,000. The bill mandates that the department calculate ROI for these programs and explain the methodology used. This data must be included in the department’s annual report to the governor, legislature, and state officials, detailing program effectiveness. The bill does not provide new funding, with the department estimating annual costs of $350,000-$500,000 for the required research and analysis.
HB 1513 requires the scholarship organization managing New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program to provide detailed, public transparency reports. It mandates that the organization publish annual data on account expenses by category and education provider within 45 business days of fund release, in a standard sortable electronic format on its website - without personally identifiable information. The bill also requires the organization to provide requested data to oversight bodies (like the legislative committee and Department of Education) within 45 business days and ensures all qualifying educational expenses are accessible. This directly affects the scholarship organization administering the program, adding specific reporting obligations to enhance public accountability.
HB 1655 establishes annual fees on properties with waterfront access or deeded water rights to state-owned dams to fund dam maintenance. Property owners with waterfront access pay $100 yearly, while those with deeded water rights pay $50 yearly, with both fees deposited into a dedicated dam maintenance fund. Working farms and properties in current use are exempt from these fees. Municipalities collect the fees, report to the state, and may retain $5 per property for administrative costs, with unpaid fees subject to interest and liens.
