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HB 373 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Town real property leasing rules

AI-generated

relative to the management and regulation of town real property.

Requires selectmen to obtain an approval vote before renting or leasing certain town-owned real property for more than one year and up to 99 years, while allowing shorter leases without a vote.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 25, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires selectmen to obtain an approval vote to rent or lease a specified real property owned by the town for a period of more than one year and up to 99 years. II. Provides that selectmen can enter into leases of any real property owned by the town for up to one year without action by the legislative body, and that selectmen may be granted universal authority by an approval vote of the legislative body to enter into leases of any real property owned by the town for up to 5 years.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“RSA 41:11-a, II and III, as amended by section 1, shall not affect any leases in effect prior to the effective date of this act.”
Section 127:2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Michael EdgarDDeputy Ranking Member· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. Linda McGrathR, Rep. Chris MunsD, Rep. Tom DolanR, Rep. Linda FranzR, Rep. David FrachtD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

5 signed in online

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0836h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0836hadopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteFloor amendment 2025-1289h (Rep. Pauer)adopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0836h 2025-1289hAdopted190–167
    Overall
    53% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government36:04–39:363m 32slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government4:41:39–4:47:315m 52slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0836h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:13:00–7:23:4510m 45slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0836h 2025-1289h — adopted, division 190-167; Amendment # 2025-0836h — adopted, voice vote; FLAM # 2025-1289h (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, voice vote
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 17
  2. Mar 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 09:20 am LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 10, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0836h 03/10/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 63
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0836h: AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 83
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-1289h (Rep. Pauer): AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 83
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0836h 2025-1289h: MA DV 190-167 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 84
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  10. May 6, 2025SenHearing: 05/06/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:45 am; SC 20
  11. May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 21
  12. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  13. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  14. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 24
  15. Jun 23, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/23/2025; Chapter 127; eff. 08/23/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.