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HB 215 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Landfill permit harms and benefits report

AI-generated

requiring a landfill permit applicant to submit a report listing potential harms and benefits of the project.

Requires landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project's potential harms and benefits and requires the department of environmental services to determine that the landfill is a net public benefit.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires a landfill permit applicant to submit a report listing potential harms and benefits of the project and requires the department of environmental services to make a determination that the landfill is a net public benefit.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill As Amended by the House (2nd committee). Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Prior to completing its full technical review of an application, the department shall determine whether a proposed solid waste facility provides a substantial public benefit through an initial review process.”
Section 1
“Net public benefit of a proposed privately-owned landfill facility shall be determined as follows:”
Section 2
“For an applicant seeking to expand an existing and fully permitted RCRA Subtitle D landfill, the department shall find that the expansion will satisfy the state’s capacity need if, during the years for which the permit shall be granted, the state will face a capacity shortfall for at least one-half of those years.”
Section 3
“Each applicant for a solid waste permit under this chapter shall have the burden of demonstrating that a proposed solid waste facility provides a public benefit by showing how the proposed facility satisfies the criteria listed under paragraph III.”
Section 4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Nicholas GermanaDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Peter BixbyDRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Seth KingRClerk· Environment and Agriculture
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. James GruberD, Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Jared SullivanD, Rep. Wendy ThomasD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0335h13–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0335hadopted
  • Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0335hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Oct 30, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2970h25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-2970hadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2970hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture6:17:38–6:24:076m 29slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:35:17–1:36:261m 9slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture13:06–13:3125slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture40:17–40:4225slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; Subcommittee Work Session
  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:35:06–1:38:133m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0335h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floor22:42–23:0826slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0335h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0335h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 14, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I22:38–38:2015m 42slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance16:58–20:143m 16slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session
  • Oct 2, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I17:49–24:426m 53slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Oct 30, 2025Public hearingHouse Finance36:38–41:354m 57slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2970h; Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2970h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2970h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural ResourcesWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 10
  2. Jan 21, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2025 10:30 am LOB 301-303
  3. Jan 28, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2025 11:00 am LOB 301-303
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  5. Feb 11, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303
  6. Feb 11, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 02/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 301-303
  7. Feb 18, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/18/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  8. Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303
  9. Feb 18, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0335h 02/18/2025 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 14 P. 8
  10. Mar 6, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0335h: AA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 10
  11. Mar 6, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0335h: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 10
  12. Mar 6, 2025HouseReferred to Finance 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 11
  13. Mar 14, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 212
  14. Apr 1, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/01/2025 10:00 am LOB 210-211
  15. Apr 2, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  16. Oct 2, 2025HouseDivision I Work Session: 10/02/2025 01:00 pm GP 230
  17. Oct 30, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/30/2025 10:00 am GP 230
  18. Oct 30, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2970h 10/30/2025 (Vote 25-0; CC) HC 51 P. 10
  19. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2970h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 70
  20. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2970h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 70
  21. Jan 29, 2026SenIntroduced 01/29/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 3
  22. Apr 16, 2026SenHearing: 04/16/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 14
  23. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 3-2; CC; SC 17
  24. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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