SB 152 · 2026 · Senate · Transportation Committee
Toll credits fund noise barriers
AI-generatedauthorizing the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects.
Authorizes the sale of toll credits to establish a noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects, subject to sufficient turnpike toll credits being available for the state match.AI-generated
Status
Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕Senate
- House
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill authorizes the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects, provided that there are sufficient turnpike toll credits for the state match for certain federal apportionment totals.
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
“The revenue from the sale of the turnpike toll credits shall be deposited into a restricted fund to be established and known as the noise barrier construction fund, said revenue to be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of transportation.”
“The commissioner is authorized to use said revenue for the design and construction of noise barrier projects that meet the Type II noise barrier criteria set forth in the department’s Policy and Procedural Guidelines for the Assessment and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise for Type I & Type II Projects, as updated and amended.”
“The commissioner may consider additional authorized adjustment factors for the determination of eligibility after consultation with an affected community concerning impacts to the community.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
- Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
- Sen. James GrayRChair· Election Law and Municipal Affairs
- Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
Public testimony
No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record
Votes
yeanay- Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee5–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
- Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0Overall100% yea
- Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 4, 2025Public hearingSenate Transportation1:12:05–1:14:222m 17slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
- Jan 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
- Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 3
- Feb 4, 2025SenHearing: 02/04/2025, Room 101, LOB, 01:30 pm; SC 8
- Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee, 03/06/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
- Mar 6, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
- Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 46
- Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
The Pew Charitable Trusts — Explains how electric vehicles and better fuel economy are eroding the gas-tax revenue states rely on to fund roads.AI-generated
- Understanding New Hampshire's Gas TaxNH context — critics
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy — Free-market policy center's explainer on how New Hampshire funds roads through the gas tax, tolls, and turnpike fund, and why revenue has lagged.AI-generated
- Bill proposes toll increase for out-of-state drivers to help fund NH highway upgradesNH context — supporters
New Hampshire Public Radio — Reports on a Senate proposal to raise tolls, largely on cash and out-of-state drivers, to fund the state's Ten-Year Plan.AI-generated
Business NH Magazine — Examines how underfunding of the state's Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan leaves needed projects unbuilt.AI-generated
- New TollsNH context
Citizens Count — Nonpartisan New Hampshire issue brief laying out arguments for and against raising turnpike tolls.AI-generated
Patch (New Hampshire) — Column on the legislative reaction after the governor's veto of the highway and Ten-Year Plan legislation.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.