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SB 559 · 2026 · Senate · Transportation Committee

Lower minimum local speed limits

AI-generated

reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.

Lowers the minimum speed limit that local authorities may set on roads within urban, residential, or business districts from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour, based on engineering or traffic investigations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill reduces the minimum speed limits that local authorities may set in certain districts from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour, based on engineering or traffic investigations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“In this section, "urban residence district" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 259:118 and "business district" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 259:8.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Denise RicciardiRPrimeChair· Transportation
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRPresident Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Seth MillerD, Rep. Catherine RombeauD

Public testimony

88 signed in online · 55 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

ForLower speeds reduce pedestrian/cyclist fatality and injury risk

Against25 mph is already slow enough for local roads

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“We would like to express support for Senate Bill 559 to allow local authorities to reduce speed limits in certain districts from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour.…”
— Matthew Glenn, Portsmouth · Seacoast Area Bicycle Riderssupports
“Per a NACTO document published in 2020, they state that "A growing body of research shows that speed limit changes alone can lead to measurable reductions in speed and crashes, even absent enforcement or traffic changes.…”
— bruce caplain, Bethlehemsupports
“I support this bill to reduce speeds on some roads to 20 mph due to pedestrian deaths being up 300% and fatalities up 25% in NH. What we are currently doing with speed limits is not working.”
— Joe Deveau, Littletonsupports
“25 is slow enough for congested or neighborhood traffic. We don't have 20 mph signs, and they are not necessary with the potential to back up traffic.”
— Cory Stone, DOVERopposes

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 5, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0343s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-0343sadopted
  • Feb 5, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0343sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 14, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate11–4
    Overall
    73% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted218–110How they voted
    Overall
    66% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    172–597% yea
    Democrats
    46–10530% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingSenate Transportation2:40:14–2:48:348m 20slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:40:25–1:44:183m 53slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0343s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0343s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0343s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation48:20–52:113m 51slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:36:40–5:38:482m 8slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 218-110

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1
  2. Jan 27, 2026Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 01/27/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 2
  3. Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 2
  4. Feb 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0343s, 02/05/2026, Vote 5-0; SC 4
  5. Feb 5, 2026SenSpecial Order to the Present Time, Without Objection, MA; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  6. Feb 5, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0343s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  7. Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0343s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 5 P. 124
  9. Apr 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/14/2026 10:40 am GP 234
  10. Apr 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 234
  11. Apr 14, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/14/2026 (Vote 11-4; RC)
  12. Apr 15, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 218-110 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 75

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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