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SB 65 · 2025 · Senate · Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Stormwater rules for solar arrays

AI-generated

relative to stormwater management for solar arrays.

Exempts solar arrays from stormwater management requirements not applicable to other development, requires a permit only for earthmoving or timber harvesting exceeding 100,000 square feet, and voids contradictory administrative rules.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 18, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill exempts solar arrays from additional requirements not applicable to other types of development, requires a permit only if over 100,000 square feet of earthmoving or timber harvesting is involved, and renders unenforceable any contradictory administrative rules.

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

“By January 1, 2026, the department shall adopt rules to establish a permit by notification for alteration of terrain that is limited to the installation of solar panels and related structures if the generating capacity of the installed panels is less than or equal to 5 MW.”
Section 96:1
“These rules shall exclude projects located within protected shore-land areas pursuant to RSA 483-B from permit by notification and shall instead require such projects to undergo the standard alteration of terrain permit review process.”
Section 96:1
“Until completion of such rulemaking, the department shall consider waivers from the rules adopted pursuant to RSA 485-A:17, I, on a per case basis.”
Section 96:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Howard PearlRPrimeVice Chair· Energy and Natural Resources

Public testimony

29 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

86% support7% oppose7% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“HEARING ON SB 65-FN Relative to stormwater management for solar arrays (BRIEF WRITTEN REMARKS) Permitting proceedings for the siting of solar arrays must no longer treat these developments as being equivalent to impenetrable parking lots.…”
— Rob Blakeney, Concordsupports
“Keep things simple for solar array installations. There's no need to add unnecessary permitting requirements to these businesses. Thanks.”
— Margaret Fletcher, Concordsupports

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources37:19–38:271m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floor4:53:03–4:56:113m 8slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0551s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0738s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0551s — failed, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:09–4:3324slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy2:05:56–2:10:304m 34slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1594h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1594h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-1594h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floor22:31–23:2756slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Avard Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 5, 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, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 3
  2. Jan 28, 2025SenHearing: 01/28/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 7
  3. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0551s, 03/06/2025; Vote 5-0; CC;
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenSB 65 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0551s, AF, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 6, 2025SenSen. Pearl Floor Amendment # 2025-0738s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  7. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0738s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  8. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 11 P. 110
  9. Apr 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2025 09:00 am LOB 302-304
  10. Apr 14, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/14/2025 09:00 am 302-304
  11. Apr 14, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/14/2025 11:00 am LOB 302-304
  12. Apr 14, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1594h 04/14/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 22 P. 11
  13. May 1, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1594h: AA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 8
  14. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1594h: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 8
  15. May 8, 2025SenSen. Avard Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  16. Jun 5, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 167
  17. Jun 5, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  18. Jun 17, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/17/2025; Chapter 0096; Effective 06/17/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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