CACR 16 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee
Right to sleep on property
AI-generatedrelating to property. Providing that individuals may sleep on property they own or have a legal right to occupy.
Proposes a constitutional amendment affirming the right of individuals to sleep on property they own or are legally entitled to occupy, protecting such activity from regulations or ordinances that would criminalize it.AI-generated
Status
Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 9, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- On the ballot
Analysis
This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution affirms the individual right of persons to sleep on property they own or are legally entitled to occupy, ensuring protection from regulations or ordinances that would otherwise criminalize such activity.
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
“Persons who own real property or have a legal right to be present on real property shall have the right to sleep, rest, or otherwise occupy the property for temporary repose.”
“No law or ordinance shall prohibit or unduly restrict such activity solely on the basis of being present for sleeping purposes, provided the occupation is otherwise lawful.”
“To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2026 session of the general court shall be approved.”
“No law or ordinance shall prohibit or unduly restrict such activity solely on the basis of being present for sleeping purposes, provided the occupation is otherwise lawful.” V.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Rep. Jodi NewellD
Public testimony
26 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony
85% support8% oppose8% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Allowing people to sleep on property they own or are otherwise legally allowed to occupy is the core of our state's live free or die ethos”
“This is an opportunity to help unhoused people and those down on their luck. People should have the right to occupy land they own or have a legal right to occupy.…”
“People should be allowed to sleep wherever they want on their property”
“I am respectfully requesting that you oppose amendment CACR16 for the following reasons. - It constitutionalizes a vague concept that invites litigation and weakens local control.…”
“This bill is far too vague and needs to be amended before approval. Does property they have "a legal right to occupy" include publicly-owned property, highway rights-of-way, retail store parking lots, gas stations?”
“Dear Housing Committee I am Neutral on CACR16 for the following reasons: It creates problems for life safety and health issues, to allow sleeping without any sanitation facilities available on site.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8Overall56% yea
Hearings and debates
- Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing6:22:53–6:26:343m 41slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing1:04:22–1:05:301m 8slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 40
- Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 02:30 pm GP 231
- Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
- Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 92
- Feb 9, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.