Environment

passed · New Hampshire · House May 7, 2026

HB 1478: requiring the department of environmental services to revise the rules for proposed new landfills.

HB 1478 requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services to revise rules for new landfills to better protect public health and the environment. The bill mandates that new landfills must maintain a minimum 1,500-foot setback from drinking water wells, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, calculated using a specific groundwater travel distance method. This method requires applicants to hire independent hydrogeologists to test groundwater velocity and ensure contamination cannot reach water sources within five years. The rule changes directly affect landfill applicants and the Department, replacing current rules deemed insufficiently protective of water resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 1,500-foot landfill setbacks from water sources and independent hydrogeological testing to protect public health/environment per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Drinking Water Waste Management

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1679: establishing a beverage container redemption program.

HB 1679 establishes a refundable $0.10 deposit on most beverage containers sold in New Hampshire, requiring distributors to collect the deposit and consumers to return empty containers to redemption centers or retailers for a refund. It exempts containers larger than 3 liters, milk, plant-based milk, infant formula, and beverages sold on airlines or trains. Distributors reimburse redemption centers $0.035 per container for processing, and unclaimed deposits after one year fund recycling infrastructure and litter prevention programs. The program, effective January 2027, directly affects distributors, retailers, redemption centers, and consumers purchasing eligible beverages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes deposit system to boost container recycling, reduce litter, and fund recycling infrastructure, directly advancing waste reduction and conservation goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1141: relative to permitting and fee authority for mining and prospecting.

HB 1141 prohibits the state from approving new large groundwater permits for commercial bottling of water in plastic bottles made with hydrocarbon-derived plastic. It directly affects companies seeking to establish new bottling operations using plastic containers, preventing them from obtaining permits for groundwater extraction. The bill requires the department to deny all new permits for this specific purpose, but does not impact existing bottling operations or non-plastic containers. This is a concrete policy change targeting the environmental impact of plastic-bottled water production at the permit stage.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits new groundwater permits for plastic bottled water, conserving water resources and reducing plastic pollution from hydrocarbon-derived containers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 1258: relative to per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and public health data.

HB 1258 requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services to publish PFAS testing results on its public website. The bill mandates the department to include data from public water systems, private wells tested through state programs, and environmental samples like soil, water, and fish tissue. Published data must be searchable by location, date, and contaminant type, with updates every six months while protecting private well owners' personal information. This law directly affects public access to PFAS contamination data and the department's reporting obligations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates public PFAS testing data transparency, enhancing environmental monitoring and public health protection through accessible contamination data.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1607: relative to the use and storage of road salt.

HB 1607 prohibits storing road salt and de-icing chemicals (like sodium chloride) in ways that risk contaminating groundwater or surface water. It requires the Department of Environmental Services to create storage regulations, with stricter rules for areas already affected by chemical contamination. This directly affects local public works departments that store these chemicals for winter road maintenance. The bill establishes a regulatory framework but does not specify exact storage methods, leaving implementation to the department's future rules.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits storage methods risking water contamination, requiring regulations to protect groundwater/surface water from chemical pollution per bill's core mandate.95% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1120: allowing subdivision regulations concerning water supply.

HB 1120 requires local planning boards to adopt subdivision regulations for developments with 4 or more units, mandating water supply studies to confirm adequate water quantity for current, proposed, and future uses. It also establishes minimum on-lot private well testing requirements and ensures protection of water-dependent natural resources. The bill clarifies that developers must cover associated costs for these studies and testing, while excluding community water systems and large groundwater withdrawals regulated under existing laws. This directly affects subdivision developers, local planning boards, and property owners with private wells in affected areas.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water supply studies, well testing, and protects water-dependent resources, directly advancing environmental conservation and pollution prevention in water management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 1148: adding cyanobacteria and algae blooms to the study of the exotic aquatic weeds and species committee.

This bill amends New Hampshire's Exotic Aquatic Weeds and Species Committee to include the study of harmful algal blooms and cyanobacteria alongside exotic aquatic weeds. The committee must now investigate factors contributing to these blooms, such as links between invasive species and nutrient levels in water. It also directs the committee to assist the Department of Environmental Services in controlling and eradicating milfoil, harmful algal blooms, and cyanobacteria. This change updates the committee's responsibilities to address specific water quality concerns affecting the state's surface waters.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands committee's mandate to study and control harmful algal blooms/cyanobacteria, directing assistance to environmental department for eradication efforts, directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

signed · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1151: relative to conservation commission appropriations.

HB 1151 clarifies how cities manage conservation funds by requiring city treasurers to hold all conservation fund money and disburse it only upon written orders from the conservation commission. It mandates that fund spending must be approved by a majority of the commission and requires a public hearing with notice before using funds for property purchases or contributions to qualified organizations. This bill directly affects city treasurers and conservation commissions in New Hampshire cities with established conservation funds, ensuring greater oversight for how these public funds are spent. The changes update existing law to strengthen commission authority over fund disbursement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates fiscal accountability for conservation funds via commission approval and public hearings, promoting responsible budget management per topic description.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires conservation commission approval and public hearings for fund spending, ensuring proper use of resources for environmental protection and conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

passed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

CACR 15: relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest game and fish. Providing that citizens of New Hampshire shall have the constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest game and fish, subject to restrictions existing in law.

New Hampshire's CACR 15 proposes adding a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest game to the state constitution. It states that all citizens have this right, including using traditional methods, but only under existing laws and regulations. The amendment specifies that these rules must promote wildlife conservation, maintain resources for public use, and preserve hunting/fishing for future generations. It does not change current laws on property rights, trespass, or eminent domain. The proposal requires voter approval in the November 2026 general election to take effect.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates regulations 'promote wildlife conservation' and 'preserve hunting/fishing for future generations,' directly aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1789: relative to extended producer responsibility.

HB 1789 establishes a program requiring producers of packaged goods to cover the cost of managing their product packaging after consumer use. This applies to manufacturers, brands, and importers selling products in New Hampshire under their brand, excluding medical packaging, certain agricultural products, and beverage containers under existing deposit programs. Producers will pay fees to a non-profit organization (managed by the Department of Environmental Services) to fund packaging reduction initiatives, reusable/refillable systems, recycling infrastructure, and reimbursements to local governments for recycling costs. The bill defines key terms like "packaging" and "producer" to clarify responsibilities under this extended producer responsibility framework.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires producers to cover packaging waste costs, funding reduction efforts to protect environment through waste management and resource conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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