Rep. Dillon Dumont

Maddy summaryHB 1598 creates a streamlined eviction process for landlords seeking to remove tenants who fail to pay rent or breach leases in ways affecting health/safety, criminal activity, or drug-related offenses. It requires landlords to provide a 5-day notice with a clear warning about the expedited timeline, giving tenants only 3 days to respond after court filing. If tenants don’t pay or vacate, courts must issue a writ of possession immediately without a hearing - unless the tenant pays all overdue rent within 48 hours. This process limits defenses to just rent payment or the alleged breach, blocking unrelated claims, and restricts stays of execution except for immediate payment. The bill applies to all landlords and tenants in qualifying eviction cases, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1351 establishes statewide standards for home-based businesses in New Hampshire, directly affecting homeowners operating such businesses and local municipalities that regulate them. The bill defines "no-impact" businesses (e.g., invisible, no customer visits) as allowed without permits in all zoning districts, while "low-impact" businesses (with up to 4 non-resident employees and ≤20 daily customer visits) require only ministerial registration. It preempts local rules that conflict with these standards, such as banning outdoor storage compliant with the bill, imposing stricter employee limits, or requiring special permits. Municipalities can no longer enforce categorical bans on home businesses unrelated to health/safety, like 2-client caps or blanket signage prohibitions. The law aims to standardize regulations while preserving residential character and neutral nuisance standards.