Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1181 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Website posting for zoning hearing notices

AI-generated

relative to public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals.

Replaces the newspaper publication requirement for zoning board of adjustment appeal hearing notices with a requirement to post notice on the municipality's website for at least five days beforehand.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill updates the public hearing requirement for zoning boards of adjustment by replacing the requirement that a notice be published in a newspaper of general circulation with a requirement that the notice be posted on the municipality’s public website for at least 5 days before the hearing.

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

“A public notice of the hearing shall be posted on the municipality’s public website not less than 5 days before the date fixed for the hearing of the appeal.”
Section 1
“The notice shall remain accessible to the public on the website until the hearing has concluded.”
Section 1
“If the municipality does not maintain a public website, the notice shall be physically posted in at least 2 public places within the municipality for the same period.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Melissa LitchfieldRPrime
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. Lisa MazurRVice Chair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Sherri ReinfurtRClerk· Housing
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip

Also: Rep. Glen AldrichR, Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

22% support67% oppose11% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Since the requirement is only to post a notice on a website, it could be posted several pages down or even on a page not linked to the home page - that is clearly not acceptable.…”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordopposes
“Absolutely a no go. My town's website is an unorganized garbage heap with no working search capability. Many others are in a similar condition. Any posting on these will be seen by no one. At least with the newspaper we have a chance.…”
— Mark Reschke, Moultonboroughopposes
“I oppose HB 1181 because adding extra notice and procedural hurdles for zoning appeals risks turning the process into a delay tactic that blocks needed housing and community projects.…”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchesteropposes
“I support the gist of this bill, however, I would urge that instead of the alternative being "posted in at least 2 public places" that the notice then have to be published in a newspaper.”
— Stephanie Vazzano, Concordneutral

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:58:42–2:01:412m 59slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County GovernmentWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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 Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 9
  2. Feb 10, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2026 10:05 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 21
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 27

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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