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SB 27 · 2026 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Expanding dwellings over water

AI-generated

relative to dwellings over water.

Allows expansion of existing dwellings over water contingent on department of environmental services approval and payment of a square-footage-based fee deposited in the water resources fund.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · March 30, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows for expansion of existing dwellings over water, contingent upon approval by the department of environmental services and payment of a fee based on the square footage of the dwelling, to be deposited in the water resources fund.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Existing dwellings over water which were constructed or converted to be made suitable for use as a dwelling in accordance with the law in effect at the time of construction or conversion, may be repaired or reconstructed, for maintenance purposes only, using any modern technologies, provided the result is a functionally equivalent use.”
Section 14:1
“The department of environmental services shall not approve any addition or expansion of structures pursuant to RSA 482-A:26, III, as amended by section 1 of this act, until the commissioner adopts rules under RSA 541-A as authorized by RSA 482-A:26, III(c).”
Section 14:2
“Such repair or reconstruction may alter the interior design or existing cribwork, but no expansion of the existing footprint or outside dimensions shall be permitted, except as allowed in subparagraph (b).”
Section 14:1
“A condition of RSA 482-A:3 approval shall be the existence or installation of a sewage disposal system which has been approved pursuant to RSA 485-A:29-44.”
Section 14:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeMajority Whip
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore

Also: Sen. Pat LongD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:38:52–1:41:002m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0365s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0365s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0365s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2025Public hearingHouse Resources, Recreation and DevelopmentWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Sep 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Resources, Recreation and Developmentfrom 1:44:55located in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Jan 8, 2026Floor debateHouse floor6:09:14–6:13:304m 16slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0022h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0022h — adopted, division 191-148
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:48:42–1:49:2442slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote; Special Order to the Present Time, Without Objection — adopted
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025SenIntroduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 2
  2. Jan 14, 2025SenHearing: 01/14/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:30 am; SC 5
  3. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0365s, 03/06/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0365s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0365s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 11 P. 109
  7. Apr 16, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/16/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  8. Apr 16, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/16/2025 02:00 pm LOB 305
  9. Apr 21, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  10. Sep 24, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/24/2025 10:00 am GP 228
  11. Sep 24, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 09/24/2025 10:00 am GP 228
  12. Oct 22, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 10/22/2025 (Vote 8-7; RC) HC 51 P. 43
  13. Oct 23, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  14. Jan 8, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0022h: AA DV 191-148 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 65
  15. Jan 8, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0022h: MA VV 01/08/2026 HJ 2 P. 66
  16. Feb 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  17. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  18. Mar 12, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 115
  19. Mar 12, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 03/12/2026); SJ 7
  20. Mar 27, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 03/27/2026; Chapter 14; Effective 05/26/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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