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HB 1802 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Training and certification for land use boards

AI-generated

relative to training, testing, and certification of local land use board members and making an appropriations therefor.

Establishes mandatory annual training, competency testing, and certification requirements for planning board and zoning board of adjustment members, sets minimum membership qualifications, and appropriates funds for implementation.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill creates mandatory annual training, competency testing, and certification for members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment, establishes reporting requirements for the office of planning and development, sets minimum qualifications for board membership, and appropriates funds for implementation.

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

“"Member" means elected, appointed, ex-officio, or appointed alternate members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment, including a committee or subcommittee of those boards.”
RSA 673:3-a
“Each member of a zoning board of adjustment or planning board shall, within 60 days of being seated and annually thereafter, complete training developed and provided by the office, covering relevant statutes, regulations, and board procedures, and shall attempt to obtain a certificate of completion by passing the associated test.”
RSA 673:3-a
“Members must make at least 3 attempts within 60 days of being seated, and annually thereafter, to obtain a certificate of completion by submitting the requisite test to the office for scoring.”
RSA 673:3-a
“Members shall provide copies of their certificate to the board chair or appointing authority within 5 days for public record.”
RSA 673:3-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Deborah AylwardRPrime
  • Rep. Jordan UleryRVice Chair· Ways and Means

Also: Rep. David FrachtD

Public testimony

5 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

40% support40% oppose20% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a member (2nd year) and current Chair (1st year) of the Enfield Zoning Board I have seen first-hand the need for baseline training of ZBA and Planning Board members. I fully support this bill.”
— Daniel Regan, Enfieldsupports
“As a long time member of a Zoning Board who holds a law degree and is very well versed in land regulations, I have seen the value of an individual with a fresh common sense approach. If we add these types of requirements for elected positions then we discourage participation.…”
— Tim Lenihan, Enfieldopposes
“NO. Committee seats on town boards are already impossible to fill with interested folks. If you burden the process with "certified experts" you will lock out ordinary citizens. The only folks on these boards will have an axe to grind and a pocket to be filled.…”
— tom luther, claremontopposes
“This is absurd ... "65 percent is required to pass ". Either put teeth in qualifications, or kill bill.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaneutral

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
  • Jan 20, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:03:14–6:05:382m 24slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 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. 36
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 11:20 am GP 154
  3. Jan 20, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/20/2026 11:20 am GP 154
  4. Jan 20, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 01/20/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 5 P. 14
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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