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HB 413 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Subdivision and building permit rule changes

AI-generated

relative to subdivision regulations on the completion of improvements and the regulation of building permits.

Extends the subdivision plat exemption from 5 to 7 years and the preliminary step from 2 to 3 years, revises the building and fire code appeals process, and allows building code review board decisions to be appealed to superior court or the housing appeals board.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Extends the existing 5-year exemption for subdivision plats to 7 years and increases the preliminary step from 2 years to 3 years. II. Changes the building code and fire code appeals process, limiting the jurisdiction of the local building code board of appeals to hearing decisions made under local amendments to those codes. III. Provides that decisions of the building code review board regarding decisions of the fire marshal and local building code board of appeals may be appealed to superior court or the housing appeals board.

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

“The planning board may, as part of its subdivision and site plan regulations or as a condition of subdivision plat or site plan approval, specify the threshold levels of work that shall constitute the following terms, with due regard to the scope and details of a particular project:”
Section 186:1
“The building code board of appeals shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the building official or fire official relative to the application and interpretation of the state building code or state fire code as defined in RSA 155-A:1.”
Section 186:2
“The board shall hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the local building official relative to the application and interpretation of the state building code and state fire code as defined in RSA 155-A:1, and shall hear appeals of final decisions of any local building code board of appeals established under RSA 674.”
Section 186:3
“The register of deeds shall not refuse to record a plat under this section for failure to comply with a law, regulation, or ordinance adopted after the date the site plan or plat was approved by the municipal planning board.”
Section 186:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Merryl GibbsD, Rep. Michael AronR

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

71% support29% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Another Keith Murphy and Joe Alexander attack on local control over cancerous developers in NH communities and featherbed wealthy developers. This is an all-out assault on NH quality of life. Once you permit it, you have lost forever to vested rights.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass11–7
    Overall
    61% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseDivisionOught to PassAdopted185–167
    Overall
    53% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:26:33–1:29:172m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government4:47:11–4:53:146m 3slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:43:16–7:46:163mlocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, division 185-167
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Commercefrom 1:37:12located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 8
  2. Mar 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 09:40 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 03/10/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC) HC 17 P. 64
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA DV 185-167 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 90
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 10
  8. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:35 am; SC 17
  9. May 15, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/15/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 21
  10. May 15, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  11. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  12. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
  13. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 186; eff.07/01/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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