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HB 1195 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Zoning rules for child care centers

AI-generated

relative to municipal zoning requirements for child day care providers.

Defines child care centers for purposes of local zoning and requires municipalities to allow their operation by right on commercially zoned land when compliant with state licensing requirements.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill defines child care centers for purposes of local zoning requirements and provides that, with limited exception, municipalities shall allow the operation of a child care center by right on commercially zoned land provided that the center is in compliance with child care licensing requirements of the department of health and human services.

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

“"Child care center" shall not include a family day care home as defined in RSA 170-E:2, IV(a) or a family group day care home as defined in RSA 170-E:2, IV(b).”
RSA 674:81
“A city, town, or county in that there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance which is different from the requirements of RSA 170-E or rules adopted thereunder by the department of health and human services.”
RSA 674:81
“However, nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prohibit municipalities from restricting the operation of a child care center in zones where industrial and manufacturing uses are permitted, unless a child care center is for the exclusive use of employees of a business located in those zones.”
RSA 674:81
“A municipality shall allow an existing building or portion thereof to be converted to a child care center, provided that the exterior dimensions of the building do not change.”
RSA 674:81

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David PaigeDPrimeRanking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader

Also: Rep. Dylan GermanaD, Rep. Denis MurphyR, Sen. Tara ReardonD

Public testimony

95 signed in online · 6 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am a pediatrician and a former President of the NH chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.”
— greg prazar MD, Strathamsupports
“I support HB 1195 because zoning rules should not make it unreasonably difficult to operate child day care programs that families depend on.…”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchestersupports
“I urge support for this bill to remove barriers for child care providers. As a grandparent, I know how important my generation is in addressing the current child care crisis.”
— Martha Jane Rich, Enfieldsupports

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0724h10–7
    Overall
    59% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0724hAdopted250–94
    Overall
    73% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseDivisionAmendment 2026-0738hFailed101–250
    Overall
    29% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0724hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2136eadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government2:01:58–2:08:376m 39slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:34:37–6:38:193m 42slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0724h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0724h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0724h — adopted, division 250-94; Amendment # 2026-0738h — failed, division 101-250
  • Apr 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs1:17:13–1:21:174m 4slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2136e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2136e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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 Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 10
  2. Feb 10, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2026 10:30 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0724h 02/17/2026 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 10 P. 65
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0738h
  6. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0724h: AA DV 250-94 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 34
  7. Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0738h: AF DV 101-250 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 35
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0724h: MA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 36
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
  10. Apr 21, 2026SenHearing: 04/21/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:45 am; SC 15
  11. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 17
  12. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  13. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2136e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  14. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2136e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  15. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  16. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  17. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 217; eff. 7/1/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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