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SB 617 · 2026 · Senate · Judiciary Committee

Towing disputes and abandoned vehicle removal

AI-generated

(Second New Title) relative to the regulation and appeal of motor vehicle towing from public highways and relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.

Extends deadlines for disputing motor vehicle towing and storage fees, requires invoices to disclose dispute procedures, and revises processes for maintaining the state police's contracted tow company list and removing abandoned vehicles.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill extends deadlines for disputing towing and storage fees and requires invoices to include information on how to challenge charges. This bill also revises the procedures and processes concerning the maintenance of and utilization of a list of contracted tow companies used by the division of state police for the removal of vehicles.

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

“All fees charged for the removal and storage of any vehicle caused to be removed by an authorized official pursuant to RSA 262:32 or RSA 262:40-a shall be reasonable, and may reflect market variables, including, but not limited to, distance traveled to and from the storage facility, vehicle size and weight, the amount of time needed to remove and store the vehicle, any special equipment needed, and personnel costs.”
RSA 262:35-a
“This section shall apply to any tow of a motor vehicle performed at the direction of a law enforcement officer within the state.”
RSA 262:35-b
“"Employee" means any individual employed by the tow business who may physically respond roadside to a state police tow call for service.”
RSA 106-B:28
“The director may take disciplinary action upon a finding, supported by satisfactory evidence, that a tow business or tow business employee has violated:”
RSA 106-B:34

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Bill GannonRPrimeChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Melissa LitchfieldR, Rep. Aboul KhanR, Rep. Mark PearsonR

Public testimony

10 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

80% support20% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am writing in strong support of SB 617, particularly the provision that prohibits the DMV from suspending a driver's license due to unpaid debts owed to private towing or storage companies.…”
— Nicholas Hobart, Portsmouthsupports

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

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary1:12:23–1:19:196m 56slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1218s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1218s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1218s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation4:09:40–4:14:475m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1510h (NT); Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:07:42–5:08:4058slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1510h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1510h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Apr 30, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety4:17–9:024m 45slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1755h (NT); Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1755h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1755h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:07:29–1:08:2354slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 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 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 1
  2. Mar 3, 2026SenHearing: 03/03/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 8
  3. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1218s, 03/26/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1218s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  5. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1218s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  6. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 9 P. 55
  7. Apr 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/14/2026 11:00 am GP 234
  8. Apr 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/14/2026 01:00 pm GP 234
  9. Apr 14, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1510h (NT) 04/14/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC)
  10. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1510h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 13
  11. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1510h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 13
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseReferred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15
  13. Apr 30, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/30/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  14. Apr 30, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/30/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  15. Apr 30, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1755h (NT) 04/30/2026 (Vote 12-1; CC) HC 19 P. 11
  16. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1755h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 12
  17. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1755h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 12
  18. May 21, 2026SenSen. Gannon Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  19. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  21. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 274
  22. Jan 1, 2027SenI. Sections 1-4 Effective 01/01/2027
  23. Aug 31, 2026SenII. Remainder Effective 08/31/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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