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HB 631 · 2025 · House · Housing Committee

Housing allowed in commercial zones

AI-generated

(New Title) permitting residential building in commercial zoning.

Requires municipalities to permit multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, subject to infrastructure stipulations and exemptions for adaptive reuse.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires municipalities to permit multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, with stipulations for infrastructure and exemptions for adaptive reuse.

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

“"Commercially zoned land" means land zoned for such commercial activities as retail and office space.”
RSA 674:77
“Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, municipalities shall allow multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, provided that adequate infrastructure, including roads, water, and sewage systems, shall be available or provided to support the development.”
RSA 674:78
“"Mixed-use" means a type of development that combines residential, commercial, cultural, institutional, or entertainment uses within a single building or development area.”
RSA 674:77
“"Adaptive reuse" means the repurposing of existing buildings or structures in whole or in part for residential purposes.”
RSA 674:77

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Alissandra MurrayDPrimeClerk· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Jessica GrillD, Rep. Jodi NewellD, Rep. Kris SchultzD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

94 signed in online · 14 wrote testimony

50% support49% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The New Hampshire State Commission on Aging supports expanding the availability and affordability of accessible housing as a priority concern for New Hampshire's older adults and the direct care workforce who provide services to older adults and whose wages are low.”
— Rebecca Sky, Concord · New Hampshire State Commission on Agingsupports
“A huge component of smart growth and affordable housing is mixed use. Allowing residents to build homes in commercial zones would provide solutions to build livable, sustainable communities. Therefore, HB631 should be passed.”
— Taylor Barry, Nashuasupports
“This bill will facilitate the development of more workforce housing by allowing multi-family housing to be to be built in commercial zones. This makes good use of water and sewer infrastructure and supports economic growth by siting housing near job opportunities.…”
— Carmen Lorentz, Belmontsupports
“I oppose this, as it's a top down mandate (from the State) requiring Municipalities to "spot zone" by allowing uses (by right) that might not be compatible and in conflict with their Master Plan.”
— Bruce Buttrick, Goffstownopposes
“A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for many towns in NH.”
— Robin Mower, Durhamopposes
“This is a backdoor way to destroy long established neighborhoods. People who bought homes depended on the zoning classification and overall zoning rules. This also takes away from local control as the localities, not the state should determine development.”
— Cole Mills, Keeneopposes

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 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT)17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0667hadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseRoll callIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Kuttab)Failed128–211How they voted
    Overall
    38% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    113–7859% yea
    Democrats
    15–13310% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667hAdopted204–134
    Overall
    60% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–1
    Overall
    83% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing4:48:19–4:59:4811m 29slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing1:12:39–1:13:491m 10slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor8:09:34–8:29:4420m 10slocated in the stream transcriptIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Kuttab) — failed, roll call 128-211; Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667h — adopted, division 204-134; Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce58:00–1:07:019m 1slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floor37:57–41:013m 4slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee 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 Housing HJ 3 P. 19
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  5. Mar 4, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT) 03/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  6. Mar 17, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Kuttab, Bridle, Bordes, Panek, Coker, Popovici-Muller, Tenczar, Seidel, L. Walsh, Perez) 03/17/2025 HJ 8 P. 3
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0667h (NT): AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 93
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Kuttab): MF RC 128-211 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 94
  9. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667h: MA DV 204-134 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 96
  10. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9
  11. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 16
  12. May 8, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/08/2025, Vote 5-1; SC 20
  13. May 8, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  14. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  15. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
  16. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 201; eff. 07/01/2026 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.