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HB 1091 · 2026 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Banning unauthorized camping on private property

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to unauthorized camping on private property.

Prohibits camping without permission on another person's private property, establishes penalties for violations, and permits municipalities to allow a nonmonetary penalty in lieu of a financial penalty for ordinances or bylaws prohibiting sleeping or camping outdoors.AI-generated

Status

Died — conference committee did not agree · June 4, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits camping without permission on another's private property and adds penalties for such violations.

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

“No person shall pitch a tent or place or erect any other camping device or sleep on the ground within the public right-of-way or on public property unless permission is received from the governing board of the governmental authority having jurisdiction over such public right-of-way or property.”
RSA 236:58
“Any person who violates RSA 236:58 shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person, or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person; and, in addition, shall be liable for the cost of restoration for any damage caused to a highway easement or right-of-way or to private land disturbed by such unlawful camping.”
RSA 236:59
“In any municipality with a population greater than 10,000 as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, no person shall camp, erect a tent, place or erect any other camping device, or sleep on the ground upon private property unless:”
RSA 236:58
“This paragraph shall not apply to campsites or recreational campgrounds or camping parks regulated pursuant to RSA 216-I.”
RSA 236:58

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jodi NewellDPrime
  • Rep. Alissandra MurrayDClerk· Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing

Also: Rep. Terri O'RorkeD, Rep. Buzz ScherrD, Rep. Jonah WheelerD, Rep. Paige BeaucheminD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

107 signed in online · 35 wrote testimony

94% support5% oppose1% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Requiring a non-financial means of redress for these violations, things like community service, verification of long-term housing or employment, etc, could make these unfortunate situations productive ones, helping to lift people up, rather than push them deeper into debt & instability.”
— kristen petricola, Keenesupports
“As a community leader in Keene working on basic needs issues for over fifteen years, I have become familiar with the impossible situations that people experiencing acute poverty face each day.…”
— Sarah Harpster, Keenesupports
“I am fully in support of this bill, as it gives the New Hampshire populace a chance to improve their financial and housing situations rather than being stuck in a constant loop of paying fines and being unable to get themselves out of unfortunate circumstances.”
— Amanda Pfeil, Laconiasupports
“I oppose this as the sponsors propose to remove the sole tool that town have to clean themselves up. The only thing that stings in this case is money. Any other real solution such as working the punishment off would require additional supervision from the town.…”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonopposes
“Please quantify the prospective alternate penalty. It cannot be applied with equal protection with it being profoundly ambiguous.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaneutral

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 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0657h13–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0657hadopted
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0657hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1544sadopted
  • Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1544s (Rep. Roy)adopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Birdsell Moved to suspend all rules necessary to permit the consideration of HB 1091; 2/3 necessaryadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteConference committee report 2026-2022cadopted
  • Jun 5, 2026HouseDivisionRules suspension to consider late sign off report at the present timeFailed180–156
    Overall
    54% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety5:53:40–6:01:518m 11slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0657h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0657h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciaryfrom 2:12:45located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1544s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1544s (Rep. Roy) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, Proulx, A. Murray, Paquette
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Reardon; (In Recess
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:07:46–1:09:081m 22slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2022c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2022c, Adopted — voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 1 P. 5
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 03:30 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 03:30 pm GP 159
  4. Feb 13, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0657h 02/13/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 9 P. 4
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0657h: AA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 4
  6. Mar 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0657h: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 4
  7. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 6
  8. Apr 9, 2026SenHearing: 04/09/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:50 pm; SC 14
  9. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15A
  10. Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1544s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1544s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
  12. Apr 23, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1544s (Rep. Roy): MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Roy, Proulx, A. Murray, Paquette 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 84
  14. May 7, 2026SenSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  15. May 7, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gannon, Abbas, Reardon; (In Recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  16. May 20, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/20/2026 11:00 am GP 228
  17. May 21, 2026HouseConferee Change: Rep. S. Smith Replaces Rep. Murray 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 32
  18. May 28, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Carson Replaces Senator Abbas; SJ 14
  19. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off;
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Moved to suspend all rules necessary to permit the consideration of HB 1091; 2/3 necessary, MA, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2022c; 06/04/2026
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2022c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  23. Jun 5, 2026HouseRules suspension to consider late sign off report at the present time MF DV 180-156 HJ 15

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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