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SB 281 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Building permits near class VI roads

AI-generated

prohibiting municipalities from denying building or occupancy permits for property adjacent to class VI roads under certain circumstances.

Changes the requirements allowing construction of a building on a lot adjacent to a class VI roadway.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill changes the requirements that allow a building to be constructed on a lot adjacent to a class VI roadway.

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

“Municipality shall not maintain the highway nor provide any services to any lot accessible by the highway;”
Section 256:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

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

Public testimony

64 signed in online · 33 wrote testimony

20% support80% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Having purchased land and had a house built within the last five years, I support this. Some communities places enormous and occasionally arbitrary restrictions on land owners attempting to build on Class VI roads.…”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonsupports
“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 imposes new conditions on the Town's Zoning ordinance. It prohibits municipalities from denying building or occupancy permits for property adjacent to class VI roads under certain circumstances.…”
— ROBERT WEIMAR, HAMPSTEAD · HAMPSTEAD PLANNING BOARDopposes
“SB281 Requirements for buildings to be constructed or not near a Class VI roadway should be made at the local level by the planning and zoning boards. Each specific situation is unique and the details of which need to be carefully considered by local boards.”
— Carol Schutte, Hampton Fallsopposes
“Regarding SB281: Building on Class VI roads is strictly a matter for local expertise and governance based on the specific circumstances of each case, rather than a one-size fits all pronouncement from on high.…”
— 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
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0947s6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0947sadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0947sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 6, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:25:49–1:36:3310m 44slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0947s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0947s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0947s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing2:22:17–2:22:5841slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Public Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing3:48:43–4:06:5918m 16slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing45:02–46:111m 9slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught 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, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Mar 4, 2025SenHearing: 03/04/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:45 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0947s, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
  4. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0947s, AA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  5. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0947s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 113
  7. Apr 8, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 04/08/2025 11:30 am LOB 305
  8. Apr 15, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 04/15/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  9. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  10. May 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass 05/06/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  11. May 22, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 6
  12. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
  13. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  14. Jul 15, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0256; Effective 07/01/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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