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SB 283 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Floor-area-ratio calculation excludes basements

AI-generated

relative to the calculation of floor-area-ratios under local building ordinances.

Requires municipalities to exclude below-grade areas from floor-area-ratio calculations while allowing developers to use below-grade areas for certain purposes without affecting the calculation.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill requires municipalities to exclude below-grade areas from floor-area-ratio (FAR) calculations, but allows developers to utilize below-grade areas for certain purposes without impacting the calculation of FAR for the building.

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

“"Floor-area-ratio (FAR)" means the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the parcel of land upon which it is built.”
RSA 674:77
“Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, municipalities with floor-area-ratio (FAR) limitations shall exclude below-grade areas from the calculation of FAR for new construction projects.”
RSA 674:78
“"Below-grade area" means any part of a building that is entirely or partially below the ground level, including basements, cellars, and sublevels.”
RSA 674:77
“"New construction" means any newly constructed building or structure, including those that are newly erected or created by major renovations.”
RSA 674:77

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

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

Public testimony

18 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

17% support83% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“SB283 Square footage is square footage no matter which level it resides in a structure. Excluding such areas from calculation impacts several key elements that local boards alone should decide. This can impact taxable amount for state taxes as well as other key factors.”
— Carol Schutte, Hampton Fallsopposes
“This bill along with other bills before the House are attempting to tackle the housing shortage. These proposals are sweeping and one-size-fits-all proposals.…”
— Katharaine Hewitt, Lymeopposes
“The solution to our hosing crisis is not to steamroll local wisdom in favor of "one size only" state mandates. We need to preserve what is special about NH towns, villages, and cities and ensure that we can pass those values along to our children.”
— David Hewitt, 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 Pass6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 6, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1596h16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1596hadopted
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1596hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 26, 2025HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2910eadopted
  • Jun 26, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:42:35–1:45:373m 2slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing4:03:48–4:07:213m 33slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing30:07–31:371m 30slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1596h; Executive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1596h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-1596h — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateSenate floor14:51–15:4049slocated 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 Bill Amendment # 2025-2910e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2910e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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, 11:00 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; 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. 113
  6. Apr 8, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305
  7. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  8. May 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1596h 05/06/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  9. May 22, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1596h: AA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 7
  10. May 22, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1596h: MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 7
  11. Jun 12, 2025SenSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/12/2025; SJ 16
  12. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2910e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  13. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2910e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  15. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  16. Aug 1, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 08/01/2025; Chapter 0301; Effective 09/30/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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