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SB 164 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Ban on certain home listing agreements

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to homeowners and prohibiting certain types of listing agreements.

Prohibits certain contracts between a provider and a homeowner requiring a lien in which the owner agrees to list residential real estate for sale with that provider.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill prohibits certain contracts or agreements between a provider and an owner under which the owner agrees to list the owner's residential real estate for sale with the provider, which requires a lien.

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

“"Prohibited listing agreement" means a contract or agreement between a provider and an owner under which the owner agrees to list the owner's residential real estate for sale and that contains any of the terms or requirements set forth in paragraph II.”
RSA 356-A:16-a
“If a prohibited listing agreement is recorded in violation of RSA 356-A:16-a, a party with an interest in the residential real estate that is the subject of the prohibited listing agreement may recover actual damages, costs, and attorney's fees as may be proven against the party who recorded the prohibited listing agreement. 242:2 Effective Date.”
RSA 356-A:16-b
“"Provider" means a person or entity providing or offering to provide real estate brokerage services.”
RSA 356-A:16-a
“"Recording" means presenting a document to a register of deeds for official placement in the records of the registry of deeds.”
RSA 356-A:16-a

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeVice Chair· Commerce
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Public testimony

39 signed in online · 8 wrote testimony

90% support8% oppose3% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This commonsense Bill will protect vulnerable older adults. Thirty states, including Maine and Connecticut have already been this practice.”
— Ruth Engel, Concord · AARP volunteersupports
“In times of scams seemingly everywhere, a law which would reduce the chance of being scammed seems like a good thing for me.”
— Marc Lacroix, Concordsupports
“As I get older and as over 25% of our citizens in NH are projected to be over 65 in five short years, we need to do everything feasible to protect us against such unfair agreements, which are often complex and difficult for the layperson (never mind an older person with cognitive issues) to understand.”
— David Hutton, Bedfordsupports
“Do not let corporations take advantage of citizens. Please Oppose.”
— Michael Derhammer, Portsmouthopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:28:24–1:37:148m 50slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floor34:57–37:282m 31slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0723s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0723s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0723s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamIntroduced (in recess); Vacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Alexander Jr.) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairsfrom 1:58:31located in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs1:54:13–1:55:211m 8slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full stream==CANCELLED== Subcommittee Work Session
  • May 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2222h (NT); Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2222h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2222h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor13:53–14:4350slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — 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, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Feb 11, 2025SenHearing: 02/11/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:30 am; SC 9
  3. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0723s, 03/13/2025, Vote 4-2; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0723s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0723s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 112
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV (in recess of) 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 114
  8. Apr 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/22/2025 02:15 pm LOB 302-304
  9. May 6, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  10. May 14, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/14/2025 10:45 am LOB 302-304
  11. May 20, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 05/20/2025 10:45 am LOB 302-304
  12. May 21, 2025House==CANCELLED== Subcommittee Work Session: 05/21/2025 10:45 am LOB 302-304
  13. May 27, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/27/2025 01:15 pm LOB 302-304
  14. May 27, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2222h (NT) 05/27/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 27 P. 7
  15. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2222h (NT): AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 5
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2222h: MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 5
  17. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  18. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  19. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  20. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0242; Effective 01/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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