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HB 1375 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

One rental application fee per year

AI-generated

prohibiting landlords from charging more than one application fee per tenant every 12 months.

Prohibits landlords from collecting more than one rental application fee from the same prospective tenant within a 12-month period, regardless of the number of units applied for or leased.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill prohibits landlords from collecting more than one application fee from the same prospective tenant within a 12-month period, regardless of how many units the tenant applies for or leases.

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

“No landlord shall require or accept more than one application fee from the same prospective tenant within any period of 12 months, regardless of the number of rental units for which the tenant applies or leases.”
Section 1
“For purposes of this section, “application fee” means any fee or charge collected for processing a rental application, including fees for background checks, credit checks, or administrative costs, whether collected for an initial application, renewal, or for applying to another unit under the same landlord or agent.”
Section 1

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing

Rep. Jonah WheelerD

Public testimony

164 signed in online · 17 wrote testimony

95% support5% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill. A rental applicant should not have to pay more then one application fee within 22 months”
— Andrea Costello, Sanbornvillesupports
“I support this bill because it will protect tenants from unnecessary fees.”
— Andrea Powers, Bristolsupports
“My name is Karen and I live and vote in Bristol. I SUPPORT this bill that prohibits landlords from collecting more than one application fee from the same prospective tenant within a 12-month period.”
— Karen Bemis, Bristolsupports
“This is immigration policy hidden in housing. In no way to Landlords need to know someone's legal status and lying should not be considered a class B felony, when being undocumented at a federal level is not even a felony.…”
— Emily White, Salemopposes
“Vote ITL because: ~It is very doubtful that this is even a predominant issue. ~After a short period a new application can be totally justified.…”
— Kathleen Lord, NORTHWOODopposes

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
  • Mar 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate9–8
    Overall
    53% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing3:05:42–3:22:2616m 44slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 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. 17
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 11:30 am GP 231
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 95
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0421h

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

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