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SB 174 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Ignoring bedroom count in zoning

AI-generated

prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process.

Prohibits planning boards from differentiating based on the number of bedrooms in a residential development during the hearing and approval process.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 prohibits planning boards from differentiating based on the number of bedrooms in a residential development during the hearing and approval process.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Keith MurphyRPrimeDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 13 wrote testimony

18% support82% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Municipalities often regulate the number of bedrooms per dwelling unit in dense zoning districts to ensure the infrastructure capacity exists to support the developments and housing in those zoning districts.…”
— ROBERT WEIMAR, HAMPSTEAD · HAMPSTEAD PLANNING BOARDopposes
“SB174 The local control at the town planning boards should have the authority to decide number of bedrooms for a given unit or development. Each town’s water and septic needs vary depending on the lot details.”
— Carol Schutte, Hampton Fallsopposes
“This bill does not address any problem that exists in Wolfeboro or similar towns and is an unwarranted intrusions into municipalities' zoning powers. New Hampshire is not a one size fits all state and blanket mandates like this can cause more problems than they solve.”
— Roger Murray, Wolfeboroopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-03-049:30 amSenate CommerceSH 100Public hearing
  • 2025-04-089:30 amHouse HousingLOB 301-303Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2025-05-0610:00 amHouse HousingLOB 305Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025, Vote 4-2; SC 13
  4. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 112
  6. Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 10:30 am LOB 305
  7. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  8. May 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1639h 05/06/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  9. May 17, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Kuttab, Panek, Bordes, Rice, B. Boyd, Boehm, Porcelli, Perez, Andrus, Ball) 05/17/2025 HJ 15 P. 4
  10. May 22, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1639h: AA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 40
  11. May 22, 2025HouseFLAM # 2025-2343h (Rep. Howland): AA DV 234-124 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 41
  12. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB174 on Table (Rep. B. Boyd): MF RC 179-180 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 41
  13. May 22, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1639h 2025-2343h: MF RC 176-183 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 43
  14. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB174 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA DV 239-120 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 45
  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.