Environment (Drinking Water) in New Hampshire

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1018: prohibiting the use of certain second generation anticoagulant rodenticides.

HB 1018 prohibits the use of four specific rat poisons (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and difethialone) in New Hampshire, primarily affecting pest control businesses, property owners, and general commercial users. The ban takes effect January 1, 2027, with key exceptions allowing these products for public health activities (like protecting drinking water or controlling documented infestations), medical waste facilities, and certain agricultural settings including food storage warehouses, slaughterhouses, and breweries. The law does not ban all rodenticides, only these four second-generation anticoagulant types. It directly changes pesticide regulations under RSA 430:41.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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 ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1275: relative to the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances on agriculture, exempting certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl products from use restrictions, and relative to the definition of "drinking water standard".

HB 1275 establishes a New Hampshire agricultural PFAS relief fund to assist farmers who have incurred losses or costs due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in soil, water, or crops from standard farming practices like land application of sludge or biosolids. The fund, financed by settlements against PFAS manufacturers, federal grants, and other sources, covers expenses including soil/water testing, water filtration systems, business adaptation costs, and health screenings for farm workers. The bill also imposes a 5-year moratorium on using sludge or biosolids for agricultural purposes to prevent further contamination. Priority for fund distribution is given to farms with historical sludge use and those currently used for agriculture.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 493: relative to cyanobacteria and other emerging environmental water quality issues.

SB 493 allows New Hampshire village districts to create special funds and partner with towns to address harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) and water quality issues. It enables villages to jointly fund projects like erosion control, phosphate reduction, and water treatment through shared agreements and access state/federal grants (e.g., RSA 487:15-25). Village districts managing affected water bodies would directly use these provisions to implement mitigation efforts, with funds limited to 1% of annual budgets for unanticipated expenses. The bill focuses on practical tools for local action, not new environmental standards.

Topics ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Drinking Water Waste Management

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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 ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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 & Taxes ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics State Budget Drinking Water

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 ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

All environment bills