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HB 372 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Equipment lease rules for buildings

AI-generated

relative to lease agreements of equipment for building or facility improvements.

Specifies that building or facility improvements that become fixtures may not be financed under the statutory provisions governing equipment lease agreements.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · March 27, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill specifies that building or facility improvements that become fixtures shall not be financed under the section for leased agreements of equipment.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Appropriations to fund lease agreements with nonappropriation clauses may be approved by a simple majority vote of the legislative body.”
RSA 33:7-e
“Lease agreements with nonappropriation clauses shall not be treated as debt under RSA 33:4-a.”
RSA 33:7-e
“For the purposes of this section, "lease" shall include lease-purchase, sale and lease back, installment sale, or other similar agreement to acquire use or ownership of such equipment as is from time to time required by the municipality.”
RSA 33:7-e
“Building or facility improvements that become fixtures related to the installation, purpose, or operation of such equipment shall not [be deemed to constitute equipment and the costs of such improvements may] be financed through lease agreements under this section.”
RSA 33:7-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Diane PauerRPrimeChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Karel CrawfordRClerk· Transportation
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Scott BryerR, Rep. Keith ErfR, Rep. Maureen MooneyR, Rep. Matthew PitaroR

Public testimony

43 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

7% support93% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill would hurt energy performance contracting and energy efficiency projects which help our municipalities and schools save money by reducing their utility costs and tax payer burdens with budget neutral solutions that address deferred maintenance costs.”
— Bill Garbati, Meredithopposes
“Governor Sununu vetoed this last year. Municipalities should be encouraged to purchase clean energy.”
— Karen Contos, Merrimackopposes
“Why would you want to limit municipalities from being able to bundle improvement costs into their leases, forcing them to find alternative, likely more expensive ways to finance these improvements? Please let municipalities keep this important budgeting capability.”
— Margaret Fletcher, Concordopposes

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 10, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseDivisionLay HB372 on Table (Rep. Stavis)Adopted196–162
    Overall
    55% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 3, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:47:25–1:51:254mlocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:03:31–5:05:502m 19slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:08:15–7:13:205m 5slocated in the stream transcriptLay HB372 on Table (Rep. Stavis) — adopted, division 196-162
  • Dec 17, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamDied on Table, Session ended

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 17
  2. Mar 3, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/03/2025 10:30 am LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 10, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/10/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 62
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseLay HB372 on Table (Rep. Stavis): MA DV 196-162 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 82
  7. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 HJ 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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