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HB 1017 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Accessory dwelling units as workforce housing

AI-generated

relative to accessory dwelling units and workforce housing.

Allows municipalities to count qualifying accessory dwelling units toward their regional fair share of workforce housing and authorizes restrictive covenants to enforce affordability requirements.AI-generated

Status

Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows municipalities to count qualifying accessory dwelling units as workforce housing toward their regional fair share obligation and authorizes the use of restrictive covenants to enforce affordability 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

“An accessory dwelling unit may be deemed a unit of workforce housing for the purposes of satisfying the municipality's regional fair share obligation under RSA 674:59, III if the unit meets the criteria in RSA 674:58, IV for rental units.”
Section 1
“The municipality may require that if a property has any accessory dwelling units, the accessory dwelling units, or a portion thereof, shall meet the definition of workforce housing or affordable in RSA 674:58.”
Section 1
“A municipality may require a restrictive covenant consistent with RSA 674:60, IV to be recorded in the registry of deeds to enforce compliance with these definitions.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David PreeceDPrime
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government

Public testimony

11 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

55% support45% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I write in strong support of HB 1017, a thoughtful, practical reform that connects accessory dwelling units (ADUs) directly to New Hampshire’s workforce housing obligations in a way that is fair, enforceable, and locally driven.…”
— David Preece, Manchestersupports
“"HB 1017 is likely to protect vulnerable populations by expanding affordable workforce housing and providing municipalities with tools to enforce long-term affordability.…”
— Georgina Lambert, Belmontsupports
“This bill is neither fish nor fowl. The prior "ADUs Everywhere" acts were abusive to the existing NH Single Family Homeowners' social compact rights with municipal zoning to be left alone without molesting by government.…”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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
  • Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing6:35:47–6:41:045m 17slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse HousingWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamMajority 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

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 2
  2. Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 03:30 pm GP 231
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 92
  5. Feb 10, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0289h

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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