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HB 556 · 2025 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Biodegradable product labeling standards

AI-generated

relative to the sale of products labeled as biodegradable or compostable.

Prohibits the sale or offering for sale of products labeled biodegradable or compostable unless the product meets third-party certification standards.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 26, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the sale or offering for sale of certain products labeled biodegradable or compostable unless the product meets third-party certification standards

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

“No person shall sell or offer for sale in this state any product labeled as biodegradable or compostable unless the product meets third-party certification by an organization such as BPI or others that adhere to the ASTM 6400 standard as set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Lucius ParshallDPrime
  • Rep. Peter BixbyDRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. Tony CaplanD

Public testimony

35 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

89% support11% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“February 18, 2025 Chair Hunt, Vice chair Potucek, and members of the committee, We, the Biodegradable Products institute (BPI), support HB 556 as amended.…”
— Alex Truelove, New York · The Biodegradable Products Institutesupports
“This bill will ensure that materials labeled biodegradable and compostable are in fact biodegradable and compostable. For these labels to have any value, they must meet certain standards.”
— Patricia Anastasia, Londonderrysupports
“NH has demonstrated that it wishes to have less solid waste to landfill. Turning food scraps to compost will help with this goal. But composters cannot successfully process waste containing items that are not truly compostable.…”
— Susan Richman, Durhamsupports

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 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs3:49:30–3:53:253m 55slocated 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 Affairs1:32:07–1:35:042m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 11:30 am LOB 302-304
  3. Mar 12, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/12/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 8
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 8

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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