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HB 1789 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Extended producer responsibility for packaging

AI-generated

relative to extended producer responsibility.

Creates a program implementing extended producer responsibility for packaging and provides for its oversight and management through stewardship fees collected and managed by producers.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 creates a program to enact extended producer responsibility for packaging. This bill also provides for oversight and management of the program through the collection of stewardship fees as managed by producers.

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

“"Bio-plastic" means plastic produced from biological sources such as vegetable fats and oils, polysaccharides, sugar, proteins, or other materials that are certified or are able to be certified to be biodegradable.”
RSA 149-M:65
“There is established the packaging reduction program by which producers who sell, offer for sale, or distribute products contained, protected, delivered, presented, or distributed in packaging shall pay fees based on the quantity and type of packaging used in the state.”
RSA 149-M:66
“One year after the selection of the packaging reduction organization in accordance with RSA 149-M:68, a producer shall not sell, offer for sale, or distribute into the state a product contained, protected, delivered, presented, or distributed in packaging unless the producer is:”
RSA 149-M:67
“Within one year after the adoption of rules pursuant to RSA 149-M:78, the department shall select and enter into a contract with a non-profit organization to act as the packaging reduction organization (PRO) in order to operate the packaging reduction and recycling program for a period of 10 years.”
RSA 149-M:68

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Lucius ParshallDPrime
  • Rep. Peter BixbyDRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. James GruberD, Rep. Heather RaymondD

Public testimony

84 signed in online · 20 wrote testimony

89% support8% oppose2% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Making producers legally and financially responsible for the waste and toxics in packaging and products is the only best to reduce/eliminate waste and toxics which consumers are not in a position to effectively deal with.…”
— B Widger, Manchsupports
“Hold producers financially and legally accountable for the toxic waste they produce in their packaging. Their materials are poisoning NH’s environment.”
— Susan Garcia, Peterboroughsupports
“As a citizen of NH I implore you to take positive action on this bill. We are loaded down with plastic packaging that is neither recyclable nor compostable.…”
— Kathleen Manfre, Peterboroughsupports
“The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is North America's leading authority on compostable products and packaging, certifying over 50,000 products from collection bags to food containers.…”
— Alex Truelove, New York · The Biodegradable Products Instituteopposes

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 Legislate14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture5:26:08–6:03:4337m 35slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Full Committee Work Session; 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 Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 36
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 02:00 pm GP 153
  3. Jan 27, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  4. Feb 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  5. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  6. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 7 P. 12
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

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

  • PaintCareProgram operator

    PaintCare — The industry-run program that would have administered a New Hampshire paint plan, with per-container fees by state.AI-generated

  • Sustainable materials managementFederal

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — The federal framing of producer responsibility and waste diversion.AI-generated

  • Product Stewardship InstituteAdvocacy

    Product Stewardship Institute — The organization behind most state EPR laws, with a state-by-state view of paint programs.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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