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SB 188 · 2025 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Third-party building code inspections

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the state building code.

Authorizes licensed or certified third parties to certify documents and inspect buildings for compliance with the state building code and other applicable codes.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill authorizes licensed or certified third parties to certify documents and inspect buildings in compliance with applicable building and other codes.

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

“"Applicable codes" means the New Hampshire state building code and any local technical amendments, excluding fire prevention and fire safety codes except as referenced by the state building code.”
Section 246:3
“An approved agency shall provide all information as necessary for the building official to determine that the agency meets the applicable requirements specified in this section.”
Section 246:4
“The owner or owner’s authorized agent may use approved agencies for building code inspections and construction document reviews as permitted by this section.”
Section 246:5
“The approved agency shall examine the construction documents, including deferred or amended documents described in this act.”
Section 246:6

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

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

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

24 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

25% support71% oppose4% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“ALLOWING USE OF THIRD PARTY INSPECTION SHOULD ONLY BE EMPLOYED IF THE MUNICIPALITY DOES NOT MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONALLY LICENSED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND INSPECTORS.…”
— ROBERT WEIMAR, HAMPSTEAD · HAMPSTEAD PLANNING BOARDopposes
“It is an extremely poor idea to give developers, especially those with large pockets, the opportunity to hire their own experts to evaluate their compliance and development quality. Obviously those with deep pockets with have undue sway and potentially circumvent true oversight.…”
— Cathy Baker, Portsmouthopposes
“*Authorization to use unlicensed providers? What could go wrong? If you need medical assistance, the first thing you'll do is consult an unlicensed surgeon, right? Give us all a break and vote this reckless bill down.”
— John Stadler, Lymeopposes

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 5, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration3:11:50–3:16:364m 46slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0294s; SB 188-FN was Removed from the Consent Calendar; Special Order to Next Session, Without Objection
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floor3:09:25–3:13:223m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0294s; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2025-0294s and #2025-0563s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0294s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing3:07:40–3:14:396m 59slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing1:22–6:164m 54slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing1:37:06–1:38:171m 11slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1951h (NT); Executive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:14:03–4:16:062m 3slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1951h — adopted, division 276-82; Amendment # 2025-1951h (NT) — adopted, voice vote; Removed from Consent (Reps. DeLemus, Colcombe, DeRoy, Gorski, Hill, Turcotte, Wallner, Kaczynski, Flanagan, D. Mannion)
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor18:44–19:3046slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Pearl 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 Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3
  2. Feb 5, 2025SenHearing: 02/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 10:30 am; SC 8
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0294s, 02/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenSB 188-FN was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Feb 13, 2025SenSpecial Order to Next Session, Without Objection; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  6. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0294s, 03/06/2025, Vote 5-0; SC 11
  7. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0294s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  8. Mar 6, 2025SenSen. Perkins Kwoka Floor Amendment # 2025-0563s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  9. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2025-0294s and #2025-0563s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  10. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 112
  11. Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 11:00 am LOB 305
  12. Apr 22, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  13. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  14. May 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1951h (NT) 05/06/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  15. May 22, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. DeLemus, Colcombe, DeRoy, Gorski, Hill, Turcotte, Wallner, Kaczynski, Flanagan, D. Mannion) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 4
  16. May 22, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1951h (NT): AA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 46
  17. May 22, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1951h: MA DV 276-82 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 46
  18. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  19. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  20. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  21. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0246; Effective 07/15/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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