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HB 1349 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Zoning exemption for low-density towns

AI-generated

relative to exemptions from multi-family zoning requirements for small or low-density communities.

Exempts municipalities with fewer than 250 residents per square mile from the statutory requirement to permit multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill exempts municipalities with fewer than 250 residents per square mile from the statutory requirement to permit multi-family residential development on commercially zoned land, regardless of federal rural or urban designations or overlapping area classifications.

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 municipality with a population density of less than 250 residents per square mile, as determined by the latest population data from the United States Census Bureau, shall be exempt from this section.”
Section 1
“This exemption shall apply to municipalities regardless of any designation by the United States Census Bureau of a community being a rural or urban area and by any resulting overlapping of these areas.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David MeuseDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. Jennifer MandelbaumDClerk· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Public testimony

10 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

30% support60% oppose10% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“TESTIMONY OF REP. DAVID MEUSE, PRIME SPONSOR One of the hardest things to do as a legislator also happens to be the hardest thing to do in a marriage—to admit you were wrong. When HB 631 came to the floor last year, I supported it.…”
— David Meuse, Portsmouth · Rock 37supports
“As an alternative to multi-family housing, a local housing authority could be required to provide affordable single-family dwellings”
— Roy Schweiker, Concordopposes

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· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing3:24:06–3:25:291m 23slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing42:08–43:171m 9slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 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 Housing HJ 1 P. 16
  2. Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 11:30 am GP 231
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  4. Feb 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 7 P. 14
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 23

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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