Housing

HB 1336 allows landlords to charge a security deposit of up to two months' rent for rental applicants who don't meet standard approval criteria (like low credit scores under 650, insufficient income below 3x rent, eviction history, unpaid judgments, or no rental history). It directly affects landlords setting rental terms and tenants who may be denied standard housing due to these factors. Key provisions require landlords to disclose unmet criteria upfront, provide written notice of the higher deposit reason, and allow tenants to request a re-screening at their expense once every six months to potentially remove the extra deposit. The bill clarifies that landlords aren't forced to accept higher deposits or approve applicants who still don't meet standards, and it has no estimated state or local cost impact.

HB 1010 repeals a statewide law requiring New Hampshire municipalities to permit multi-family residential development (like apartment buildings) on land zoned for commercial use. This directly affects all cities and towns that previously had to allow such projects on commercial properties. The bill removes two specific statutes (RSA 674:79 and RSA 674:80) that created this mandate, giving local governments discretion over zoning decisions. The repeal takes effect on June 30, 2026.

SB 419 expands the "housing champion" designation to include local governments that adopt zoning rules allowing child care centers near jobs (like on commercially zoned land without special permits, meeting health department standards). It allocates $5 million to the housing champion program fund and $10 million to the affordable housing fund for the 2026-2027 biennium, both non-lapsing. These funds will support affordable housing projects and local efforts to improve housing access. The bill directly affects towns and cities that change zoning to integrate childcare with commercial development.