Environment

died · New Hampshire · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 1389: relative to PFAS facility liability.

HB 1389 establishes strict liability for owners or operators of facilities that release PFAS chemicals into groundwater, triggering cleanup requirements when contamination reaches 500 parts per trillion or higher. It directly affects businesses handling PFAS (like manufacturers or waste facilities) that caused such contamination. The bill mandates compliance with federal cleanup regulations (40 CFR 265.111 and 265.114) for equipment, piping, and building surfaces used with PFAS. This requires facilities to address contamination through closure, decommissioning, or remediation of affected infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates cleanup for PFAS contamination at 500 ppt, enforcing strict liability and federal regulations to protect groundwater from pollution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

Track

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 1180: updating the definition of the state building code to include the International Energy Conservation Code 2024.

HB 1180 updates New Hampshire's state building code definition to adopt the International Energy Conservation Code 2024 (IECC 2024) instead of the previous 2018 version. This change directly affects builders, architects, and developers who must comply with state building codes for new construction and major renovations. The bill requires all new projects to meet the stricter energy efficiency standards in the IECC 2024, which aims to reduce energy use in buildings. The update takes effect July 1, 2026, with minimal fiscal impact (under $10,000 annually through 2029).

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAdopts stricter IECC 2024 standards requiring higher energy efficiency in new construction, directly reducing building energy consumption.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdopts stricter IECC 2024 energy efficiency standards to reduce building energy use, directly advancing environmental protection through lower emissions and conservation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1783: relative to benefits issued to certain water-related infrastructure projects.

HB 1783 creates new benefits for community-based water and wastewater treatment projects that enable residential construction on smaller lot sizes. The Department of Environmental Services will determine if projects qualify, and qualifying projects may receive priority for housing grants, preferred financing rates from the municipal bond bank, or expedited approvals. These benefits apply specifically to innovative regional water/wastewater systems that reduce minimum lot size requirements for homes, as defined under existing law. The bill does not provide new state funding for these benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects government spending through housing grants and preferred municipal bond financing for water infrastructure projects, advancing fiscal support for qualifying developments.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates incentives for innovative water/wastewater systems, directly advancing environmental protection through improved infrastructure for residential development.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables smaller lot housing via water infrastructure benefits, granting housing grants, preferred financing, and expedited approvals for qualifying projects.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 21, 2026

HB 1205: prohibiting state and county owned lands from participating in timber carbon sequestration projects.

HB 1205 prohibits all state and county-owned lands in New Hampshire from enrolling in carbon sequestration projects, which are programs that capture and store carbon dioxide to reduce atmospheric emissions. This bill directly affects state and county governments, preventing them from participating in such initiatives on public lands they manage. The key provision adds a new section to state law (RSA 79:38) explicitly banning enrollment in carbon sequestration programs for public lands. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyProhibits state lands from carbon sequestration projects, blocking emission reduction initiatives tied to climate policy and clean energy infrastructure.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentProhibits public lands from carbon sequestration projects that reduce emissions, directly restricting a climate mitigation strategy and weakening environmental protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1622: requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.

This bill requires New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services (DES) to inventory all operating and closed landfills (including those needing remediation) and assess available acreage for expansion while considering current regulations like setbacks from water bodies and homes. It prohibits DES from accepting new landfill applications in undeveloped "greenfield" areas unless applicants prove existing landfills cannot be expanded. The state must fund this through its existing Solid Waste Management Fund, with estimated annual costs of $4.2 million starting in fiscal year 2027 for staff and consultant work. The bill directly affects DES and future landfill developers seeking permits, mandating a comprehensive review before new disposal sites can be approved.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits new landfills in greenfields unless existing sites can't expand, requiring DES to prioritize waste site expansion over new undeveloped land, protecting natural areas and reducing environmental impact.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling Waste Management

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1198: establishing the paint product stewardship program.

HB 1198 establishes a program to manage paint consumers no longer want (postconsumer paint) by requiring paint manufacturers to create and fund a stewardship plan. The plan must detail how to collect, recycle, or responsibly dispose of unused paint, include a fee added to each paint purchase, and cover consumer education. Manufacturers must submit their approved plans to the state environmental agency within 12 months, and retailers can only sell paint if the manufacturer has an approved plan. This directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and voluntary collection sites that participate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes mandatory fee on paint sales to fund environmental stewardship program, creating dedicated tax revenue for public service.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires manufacturers to manage paint waste via recycling/disposal, reducing pollution and aligning with environmental protection through waste stewardship.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 541: relative to capital appropriations for regional drinking water infrastructure.

SB 541 appropriates $16.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services for Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. It directly funds infrastructure (including pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines) to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The bill requires that no public utility ratepayer face adverse costs from this project. Funds are nonlapsing, meaning they remain available for use beyond the fiscal year without needing annual renewal.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $16.5M from General Fund for essential water infrastructure, directly funding public service without increasing ratepayer costs. Aligns with funding public services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds infrastructure to address PFAS contamination (environmental pollutant), directly protecting water resources and aligning with pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Drinking Water

passed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 35: urging the prohibition of the intentional release of polluting emissions, including cloud seeding and weather modification, to preserve the atmosphere of New Hampshire.

HR 35 is a New Hampshire House Resolution urging the prohibition of intentional releases of polluting emissions, such as cloud seeding and weather modification, within the state. It declares that activities like stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) or solar radiation modification (SRM) harm human health, the environment, agriculture, and state security. The resolution requires the state's Environmental Services Commissioner to notify 27 federal agencies - including NOAA, NASA, and the EPA - within 30 days and post the resolution online. This resolution does not create binding law but expresses the legislature's position and urges federal action to protect New Hampshire's atmosphere.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits polluting emissions (cloud seeding/weather modification) citing environmental harm, aligning with protection stance per its explicit language.90% confidence

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1089: extending the authorization of the department of environmental services for the evaluation and mitigation of new community water system contamination risks.

HB 1089 extends the Department of Environmental Services' authorization to evaluate and mitigate contamination risks for new community water systems. It specifically applies to smaller groundwater sources (under 57,600 gallons daily) that could affect existing private wells. The bill requires the department to adopt rules ensuring new water systems don’t cause unmitigated harm to nearby private water supplies. This continuation of existing authority directly affects new community water providers and protects adjacent private well users. The bill does not create new rules but maintains current protections for water safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill extends environmental agency authority to prevent water contamination risks from new systems, requiring rules to avoid harm to private wells, directly strengthening pollution control and protection.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents water contamination risks, protecting public health - a healthcare aspect - by ensuring new water systems don't harm private wells.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

passed · New Hampshire · House Mar 12, 2026

HR 44: concerning the protection of public lands.

This House Resolution (HR 44) expresses support for maintaining public ownership of New Hampshire's state and federal lands, including the White Mountain National Forest and other conserved areas. It specifically opposes efforts to rescind the federal Roadless Rule, which protects roadless areas from logging and development. The resolution urges New Hampshire's governor, attorney general, and congressional delegation to take action against any attempts to weaken these protections. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally states legislative support for preserving public lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentOpposes rescinding Roadless Rule, protecting roadless areas from logging/development, thus strengthening environmental land conservation.95% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill opposes rescinding Roadless Rule, which restricts road construction in protected areas like forests, limiting transportation infrastructure development in those zones.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

Track