Environment

failed · New Hampshire · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 510: ensuring state-operated, publicly accessible spaces have designated smoking areas undetectable to visitors.

SB 510 requires state-operated public spaces (like government buildings, parks, or facilities open to visitors) that permit smoking to provide designated smoking areas where smoke is not detectable by sight or smell in public or common areas. This applies only to publicly accessible locations, excluding state-controlled areas not open to the public. The bill mandates physical containment measures, such as enclosed or specially engineered structures, to prevent smoke from escaping into shared spaces. It does not require smoking to be allowed in these areas but sets standards for smoke containment if permitted. The fiscal note estimates construction costs of about $2,600 per location for initial setup, with additional maintenance expenses, though the bill does not allocate state funding for these costs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates physical containment of smoke in public spaces to prevent detection, reducing air pollution from tobacco smoke in shared areas, directly aligning with pollution control under environmental protection.85% confidence

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 628: enabling curbside electric-vehicle charging.

SB 628 enables highway authorities (state or local governments) to license curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in public rights-of-way, such as sidewalks or street spaces. It establishes two options for electricity supply: either a dedicated new service or a "host energy reimbursement arrangement" where operators pay adjacent property owners for electricity use via separate metering. The bill sets strict siting rules to ensure pedestrian accessibility, safety, and compliance with disability standards, while clarifying that operators are not considered public utilities. This directly affects highway authorities, property owners hosting chargers, and EV charging operators by creating a legal framework for public EV charging infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables EV charging infrastructure, promoting electric vehicles and reducing fossil fuel dependence. Directly advances clean energy infrastructure development for transportation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEnables EV charging infrastructure to promote electric vehicle adoption, reducing transportation emissions and supporting clean energy transition.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables curbside EV charging infrastructure in public rights-of-way, promoting sustainable transportation and modernizing transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1476: permitting third-party payment for point-of-entry treatment system and water line installation to expand access to clean drinking water.

HB 1476 allows homeowners to use third-party funding (like from nonprofits, companies, or government programs) to pay for installing point-of-entry water treatment systems or connecting to public water lines. This directly helps residents in areas lacking clean drinking water who cannot afford these installations themselves. The bill requires written agreements between third parties and property owners, ensures systems meet safety standards, and clarifies that such payments do not count as loans unless structured as such. It also ensures the state cannot block these installations solely because a third party covers the cost, while preserving eligibility for existing state or federal water assistance programs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands access to clean drinking water systems, directly advancing environmental protection by ensuring safe water quality and reducing pollution risks in underserved areas.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to clean drinking water, a public health necessity, directly supporting community health outcomes and public health program goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1742: relative to customer-generators inadvertently enrolled in a municipal or county aggregation program.

HB 1742 protects customers who generate their own electricity (like solar panel owners) from being accidentally enrolled in third-party power programs without their consent. It requires utilities to investigate such cases within 10 business days and restore affected customers to their standard utility service within 5 days if confirmed. For up to six months prior to restoration, utilities must apply retroactive net metering credits for electricity they exported to the grid but weren't credited for during the incorrect enrollment. This ensures customers aren't financially penalized for errors in enrollment.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProtects solar customer-generators' net metering rights, ensuring fair compensation for renewable energy exports and preventing forced enrollment in third-party programs, directly advancing distributed renewable energy adoption.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProtects net metering for solar customers, enabling renewable energy adoption and grid credits, which supports clean energy infrastructure and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1739: relative to energy infrastructure, economic development, and workforce training for large-scale data facilities.

HB 1739 creates incentives to attract large data-center campuses to New Hampshire while modernizing the electric grid. It offers developers phased property tax breaks over 12 years and transferable tax credits covering up to 20% of construction costs, contingent on signing binding Grid Modernization Agreements. These agreements require developers to source non-gas electricity (like solar or wind) matching their energy use, fund grid-stabilizing programs, and partner with community colleges for workforce training in data-center operations. The bill also establishes fast-track permitting for eligible sites and mandates community benefits like noise limits, environmental screening, and resident bill credits from exported power.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesOffers property tax breaks and transferable tax credits (up to 20% of costs) to attract data centers, directly using tax policy for economic development.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates non-gas electricity (solar/wind) matching data center energy use, funds grid modernization, and requires renewable energy sourcing via Grid Modernization Agreements.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates non-gas electricity (solar/wind) for data centers, requiring renewable energy matching and grid modernization programs to reduce fossil fuel reliance.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates partnerships with community colleges for workforce training, directly advancing employment standards and job readiness for data center roles.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill provides tax incentives for data centers, mandates renewable energy use, and requires grid modernization, directly advancing tech infrastructure development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Electric Grid Solar Workforce Development

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passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1285: establishing a commission to study if New Hampshire may implement an R-PACER program.

HB 1285 creates a multi-agency task force to study whether New Hampshire could implement an R-PACER program, which would allow homeowners to finance property resilience improvements (like flood mitigation) through property taxes. The task force, including state finance and housing authorities, must review lessons from New Hampshire’s existing C-PACER program for businesses, examine other states’ R-PACER models, and recommend if and how such a program should be adopted. It will assess key elements like eligible improvements, consumer protections, lender oversight, and required administrative authority. The task force must report its findings and legislative recommendations to state leaders by June 2027, with no immediate policy changes enacted by this bill.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes task force to study R-PACER for flood mitigation financing, supporting climate resilience through property improvements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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passed both · New Hampshire · House May 21, 2026

HB 1542: establishing a committee to study New Hampshire's electric renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy fund.

HB 1542 sets all renewable energy fund compliance payments (the fees electric providers pay if they can't meet renewable energy requirements) to $0, effective January 1, 2027. This eliminates the primary revenue source for New Hampshire's Renewable Energy Fund (REF), which currently funds programs like low-income solar initiatives, non-residential renewable grants, and community solar projects. The fiscal note states this change would reduce annual REF revenue by approximately $6.7 million starting in 2028, causing all REF-funded programs and nine state positions supporting renewable energy compliance to cease without new legislative funding. The bill directly affects electric service providers (by removing compliance penalties), state programs, and low-income communities relying on REF-funded solar projects.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEliminates primary revenue source for Renewable Energy Fund, defunding essential programs like low-income solar initiatives and community solar projects.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyEliminates primary revenue for renewable energy fund, defunding low-income solar, non-residential grants, and community solar projects.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentDefunds renewable energy programs by eliminating REF revenue source, removing $6.7M annual funding for solar initiatives and grants per fiscal note.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 453: prohibiting municipalities from banning use of grounds maintenance and snow and ice removal equipment with internal combustion engines.

HB 453 prevents towns and cities from banning the use of gas-powered grounds maintenance and snow/ice removal equipment on private or public property within their borders. It directly affects property owners, landscapers, and municipalities by prohibiting local governments from restricting the operation of these machines. The key provision states that local governing bodies cannot forbid such equipment use, though they may choose to ban purchasing these machines if voters approve a separate vote. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill prevents bans on gas-powered equipment, supporting fossil fuel use and opposing restrictions that would promote cleaner alternatives in grounds maintenance and snow removal.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents municipalities from banning gas-powered equipment, which would increase emissions and weaken local environmental regulations targeting pollution from such machinery.90% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 392: directing the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office ofhealth access and the department of environmental services' functions for environmental justice.

HB 392 directs the dissolution of three specific state entities: the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Health Equity, the Department of Environmental Services' environmental justice programs, and the Governor's Council on Diversity and Inclusion. The bill prohibits these agencies from re-establishing these offices or using any allocated funds for projects labeled "health equity" or "civil rights and environmental justice." It also removes the Office of Health Equity director position from state statute and repeals related membership requirements. This bill affects state agencies' program structures and funding allocations, with no new funding provided or positions authorized.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentDissolves environmental justice programs and prohibits funding for related initiatives, weakening environmental protections and equity efforts.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDissolves Office of Health Equity and prohibits funding for health equity initiatives, directly defunding healthcare equity programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Environmental Justice

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1282: establishing a commission to advise the department of environmental services on food waste diversion.

HB 1282 creates the Organic and Food Waste Diversion Commission within New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services. The commission, composed of 15 members representing legislators, environmental groups, waste management, businesses (grocers, hospitals), municipalities, and academia, will advise the department on developing food waste diversion programs. Key duties include recommending rules, timelines, business support strategies, and educational outreach to help businesses and communities reduce food waste. The commission must submit its first report by November 1, 2027, and annual reports thereafter. This bill directly affects the Department of Environmental Services, businesses generating food waste, municipalities, and waste management facilities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates commission to develop food waste diversion programs, reducing landfill pollution and promoting resource conservation through mandatory diversion strategies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management

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