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SB 170 · 2025 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Limits on local development restrictions

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities.

Prohibits municipalities from restricting certain development-related activities, requires them to allow septic, well, electric, and drainage utilities within open spaces or subdivision buffers, bars requiring housing occupants to be related, and limits road frontage and setback requirements.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the House · May 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Prohibits cities, towns, and municipalities from restricting certain development-related activities. II. Requires cities, towns, and municipalities to allow for septic systems, wells, electric systems, drainage structures, and other utilities to be placed in open spaces or perimeter buffers of subdivisions. III. Prohibits cities, towns, and municipalities from mandating that occupants of housing units be related by blood or marriage. IV. Adopts limits on road frontage requirements and setbacks for lot lines to improve housing density, ensuring these requirements are consistent with existing shoreland protection and environmental standards.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The opportunity to obtain housing without discrimination because of age, sex, gender identity, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin is hereby recognized and declared a civil right.”
RSA 354-A:8
“Cities, towns, municipalities, and counties with unincorporated places shall not require more stringent test-pitting requirements for septic systems than the department of environmental services requires.”
RSA 674:23-a
“In addition, no person shall be denied the benefit of the rights afforded by this section on account of that person's sexual orientation.”
RSA 354-A:8
“Cities, towns, and municipalities shall not mandate that occupants of housing units be related by blood or marriage.”
RSA 354-A:8

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDPrimeMinority Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader
  • Rep. Laurel StavisDRanking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing

Also: Sen. Pat LongD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Tara ReardonD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

72 signed in online · 26 wrote testimony

40% support60% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is a good bill that will allow for more housing to be constructed.”
— Megan Kilar, Candiasupports
“I support this bill. 84/163/281/282/170 Indeed, I support all these bills. Charles Marohn and StrongTowns capture the essence of individual property rights with a community perspective. His most recent book on the Housing Crisis is apropos, I will not quote here.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“This bill is absolutely necessary since the municipalities cannot seem to rid their ordinances of stringent lot frontage and setback requirements on their own. There should be no stricter requirements for septic systems and wells than those imposed by NHDES.…”
— Anne Marie Skinner, Concordsupports
“The bill significantly reduces municipal autonomy and undermines the ability of local governments to address the needs of their individual communities.…”
— ROBERT WEIMAR, HAMPSTEAD · HAMPSTEAD PLANNING BOARDopposes
“SB170 Each town should have the decision-making authority on road frontage requirements and setbacks for lot lines. Likewise, the planning and zoning boards should decide the allowed locations for septic systems. Wells, electric and drainage systems.”
— Carol Schutte, Hampton Fallsopposes
“*This is a one-size fits all approach that treats larger cities and small towns the same. They aren't remotely the same and can't be treated as such. Manchester has entirely different needs than Lyme.…”
— John Stadler, 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 Pass with Amendment # 2025-0991s6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0991sadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0991sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 6, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1948h (NT)16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteLay SB170 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 20, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce33:57–37:353m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce58:55–1:15:0116m 6slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0991s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0991s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0991s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing5:12:17–5:12:4831slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Public Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing5:47:00–5:53:556m 55slocated in the stream transcript==CONTINUED== Public Hearing
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse HousingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • May 6, 2025Public hearingHouse HousingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamExecutive Session
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floor3:44:31–3:46:071m 36slocated in the stream transcriptLay SB170 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.) — adopted, voice vote
  • 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 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 3
  2. Feb 20, 2025SenHearing: 02/20/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 11, 2025SenHearing: 03/11/2025, Room 100, SH, 11:00 am, on proposed amendment # 2025-0807s; SC 12
  4. Mar 20, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0991s, 03/20/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 13
  5. Mar 20, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0991s, AA, VV; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  6. Mar 20, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0991s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/20/2025; SJ 8
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 11 P. 112
  8. Apr 8, 2025House==RECESSED== Public Hearing: 04/08/2025 02:30 pm LOB 305
  9. Apr 15, 2025House==CONTINUED== Public Hearing: 04/15/2025 02:00 pm LOB
  10. Apr 22, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2025 01:00 pm LOB 305
  11. May 6, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/06/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  12. Apr 6, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1948h (NT) 04/06/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC)
  13. May 20, 2025HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Rung, McGhee, Horrigan, W. Thomas, B. Boyd, Ball, Bordes, Andrus, P. Brown, Gorski) 05/20/2025 HJ 15 P. 4
  14. May 22, 2025HouseLay SB170 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 40
  15. Dec 17, 2025HouseDied on Table, Session ended 12/17/2025 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.