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HB 437 · 2025 · House · Housing Committee

Discharge process for old mortgages

AI-generated

providing specific curative measures for undischarged mortgages.

Establishes automatic discharge periods for undischarged mortgages based on whether their term or maturity date is stated.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 8, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill establishes automatic discharge periods for undischarged mortgages based on whether their term or maturity date is stated or not.

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

“From and after January 1, 2028, all undischarged mortgages in which the term or maturity date is not stated shall be deemed discharged without the necessity of any further action 35 years from the date of recording of the mortgage, unless an extension of the mortgage, or an acknowledgment or affidavit that the mortgage is not satisfied, is recorded before the expiration of the said 35-year period.”
RSA 479:28
“From and after January 1, 2028, all undischarged mortgages in which the term or maturity date is stated shall be deemed discharged without the necessity of any further action 5 years from the expiration of the term or the maturity date, unless an extension of the mortgage, or an acknowledgment or affidavit that the mortgage is not satisfied, is recorded before the expiration of the term or maturity date.”
RSA 479:28
“All extensions, agreements, affidavits, and acknowledgments shall be executed by the mortgagor or mortgagor’s heirs, successors or assigns and mortgagee or assignee of record and recorded in the registry of deeds in the county where the land lies.”
RSA 479:28
“If an extension of the mortgage or an acknowledgment or affidavit that the mortgage is not satisfied is so recorded, such undischarged mortgage shall be deemed discharged without the necessity of any further action 5 years from the expiration of the extension period if stated therein or 5 years from the date of recording of such extension, acknowledgment or affidavit if no extension period is stated therein.”
RSA 479:28

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Bill BoydRPrimeClerk· Public Works and Highways
  • Rep. Steven BogertRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Mary Hakken-PhillipsD, Rep. Maureen MooneyR, Rep. Nancy MurphyD, Rep. Rosemarie RungD, Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Tara ReardonD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

56 signed in online · 18 wrote testimony

95% support5% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a lawyer in private practice for over 37 years and as a Member of the NH Bar Association's Title Standard Subcommittee since 2004, I wholeheartedly support this Bill.…”
— Chris Boldt, Sandwichsupports
“I support this consumer protection bill that will help consumers that are victims of lenders who can't manage their own chain of transfers for a mortgage, resulting in consumers forced to pay for and complete a quiet title to remove the cloud on their title due to the lenders poor recording keeping and management.…”
— Kathleen Button, Amherstsupports
“I am an attorney licensed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and have been primarily practicing in New Hampshire real estate matters for approximately seven years.…”
— Theodore P Prizio, Chelmsfordsupports
“This process appears to be a ripoff of confused senior citizens or their heirs. At a minimum' legal posting of the proposed discharge should be required, better yet would be a required petition in probate court.”
— Roy Schweiker, 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
  • Jan 9, 2025HouseVoice voteVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs ()adopted
  • Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0519h16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0519hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0519hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 12, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 9, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamIntroduced (in recess); Vacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs () — adopted, voice vote
  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs7:01–16:369m 35slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs56:52–1:00:503m 58slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0519h; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floor1:37:45–1:40:022m 17slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0519h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0519h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:20:42–1:23:062m 24slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 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, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 3 P. 9
  2. Jan 9, 2025HouseVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (): MA VV (in recess of) 01/09/2025 HJ 3 P. 9
  3. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 12, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  6. Mar 19, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0519h 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 7
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0519h: AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 7
  8. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0519h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 7
  9. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 10
  10. Apr 15, 2025SenHearing: 04/15/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:20 am; SC 17
  11. May 8, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/08/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 20
  12. May 8, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  13. Jun 12, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
  14. Jun 12, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 26
  15. Jul 7, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/07/2025; Chapter 157; eff.09/05/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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