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SB 170 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Limits on local development restrictions

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities.

Prohibits municipalities from restricting certain development-related activities, requires them to allow septic, well, electric, and drainage utilities within open spaces or subdivision buffers, bars requiring housing occupants to be related, and limits road frontage and setback requirements.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill provides that residential property subject to a housing covenant under the low income housing tax credit program shall be assessed an amount equal to 10 percent of the net rental income and certain other income.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDPrimeMinority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader
  • Rep. Laurel StavisDRanking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing

Also: Sen. Pat LongD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Tara ReardonD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

72 signed in online · 26 wrote testimony

40% support60% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is a good bill that will allow for more housing to be constructed.”
— Megan Kilar, Candiasupports
“I support this bill. 84/163/281/282/170 Indeed, I support all these bills. Charles Marohn and StrongTowns capture the essence of individual property rights with a community perspective. His most recent book on the Housing Crisis is apropos, I will not quote here.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“This bill is absolutely necessary since the municipalities cannot seem to rid their ordinances of stringent lot frontage and setback requirements on their own. There should be no stricter requirements for septic systems and wells than those imposed by NHDES.…”
— Anne Marie Skinner, Concordsupports
“The bill significantly reduces municipal autonomy and undermines the ability of local governments to address the needs of their individual communities.…”
— ROBERT WEIMAR, HAMPSTEAD · HAMPSTEAD PLANNING BOARDopposes
“SB170 Each town should have the decision-making authority on road frontage requirements and setbacks for lot lines. Likewise, the planning and zoning boards should decide the allowed locations for septic systems. Wells, electric and drainage systems.”
— Carol Schutte, Hampton Fallsopposes
“*This is a one-size fits all approach that treats larger cities and small towns the same. They aren't remotely the same and can't be treated as such. Manchester has entirely different needs than Lyme.…”
— John Stadler, Lymeopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-209:30 amSenate CommerceSH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-03-1110:00 amSenate CommerceSH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-04-089:30 amHouse HousingLOB 301-303Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-1510:00 amHouse HousingLOB 302-304Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-04-2210:00 amHouse HousingLOB 305Public hearing
  • 2025-05-0610:00 amHouse HousingLOB 305Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Feb 20, 2025SenHearing: 02/20/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 11, 2025SenHearing: 03/11/2025, Room 100, SH, 11:00 am, on proposed amendment # 2025-0807s; SC 12
  4. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0991s, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
  5. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0991s, AA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  6. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0991s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 112
  8. Apr 8, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 04/08/2025 02:30 pm LOB 305
  9. Apr 15, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 04/15/2025 02:00 pm LOB
  10. Apr 22, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2025 01:00 pm LOB 305
  11. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  12. Apr 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1948h (NT) 04/06/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  13. May 20, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Rung, McGhee, Horrigan, W. Thomas, B. Boyd, Ball, Bordes, Andrus, P. Brown, Gorski) 05/20/2025 HJ 15 P. 4
  14. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB170 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 40
  15. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 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.