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HB 631 · 2025 · House · Housing Committee

Housing allowed in commercial zones

AI-generated

(New Title) permitting residential building in commercial zoning.

Requires municipalities to permit multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, subject to infrastructure stipulations and exemptions for adaptive reuse.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill allows multifamily or mixed-use developments as a permitted use by right in certain urban municipalities, outlines specific zoning regulations that cannot be imposed on such developments, and provides definitions for key terms.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Alissandra MurrayDPrimeClerk· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Heath HowardDDeputy Ranking Member· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Jessica GrillD, Rep. Jodi NewellD, Rep. Kris SchultzD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

94 signed in online · 14 wrote testimony

50% support49% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The New Hampshire State Commission on Aging supports expanding the availability and affordability of accessible housing as a priority concern for New Hampshire's older adults and the direct care workforce who provide services to older adults and whose wages are low.”
— Rebecca Sky, Concord · New Hampshire State Commission on Agingsupports
“A huge component of smart growth and affordable housing is mixed use. Allowing residents to build homes in commercial zones would provide solutions to build livable, sustainable communities. Therefore, HB631 should be passed.”
— Taylor Barry, Nashuasupports
“This bill will facilitate the development of more workforce housing by allowing multi-family housing to be to be built in commercial zones. This makes good use of water and sewer infrastructure and supports economic growth by siting housing near job opportunities.…”
— Carmen Lorentz, Belmontsupports
“I oppose this, as it's a top down mandate (from the State) requiring Municipalities to "spot zone" by allowing uses (by right) that might not be compatible and in conflict with their Master Plan.”
— Bruce Buttrick, Goffstownopposes
“A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for many towns in NH.”
— Robin Mower, Durhamopposes
“This is a backdoor way to destroy long established neighborhoods. People who bought homes depended on the zoning classification and overall zoning rules. This also takes away from local control as the localities, not the state should determine development.”
— Cole Mills, Keeneopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-02-0410:00 amHouse HousingLOB 305Public hearing
  • 2025-02-1110:00 amHouse HousingLOB 305Public hearing
  • 2025-04-109:30 amSenate CommerceSH 100Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 3 P. 19
  2. Feb 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305
  3. Feb 11, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  4. Feb 11, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  5. Mar 4, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT) 03/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)
  6. Mar 17, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Kuttab, Bridle, Bordes, Panek, Coker, Popovici-Muller, Tenczar, Seidel, L. Walsh, Perez) 03/17/2025 HJ 8 P. 3
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0667h (NT): AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 93
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseIndefinitely Postpone (Rep. Kuttab): MF RC 128-211 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 94
  9. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667h: MA DV 204-134 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 96
  10. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9
  11. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 16
  12. May 8, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/08/2025, Vote 5-1; SC 20
  13. May 8, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  14. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  15. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58
  16. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 201; eff. 07/01/2026 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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