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HB 1198 · 2026 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Paint product stewardship program

AI-generated

establishing the paint product stewardship program.

Establishes a paint product stewardship program.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (House) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes the paint product stewardship program.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Aerosol coating product" means a pressurized coating product containing pigments or resins dispensed by means of a propellant and packaged and sold in a disposable aerosol container for hand-held application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground traffic or marking applications.”
RSA 149-M:65
“A manufacturer of paint sold at retail in New Hampshire, or representative organization, shall submit to the commissioner a plan for the establishment of a postconsumer paint product stewardship program to cover paint products as defined in RSA 149-M:65.”
RSA 149-M:66
“A plan required by RSA 149-M:66 shall be submitted within 12 months of the effective date of this subdivision.”
RSA 149-M:67
“A manufacturer or retailer shall not sell, or offer for sale, a paint product to any person in New Hampshire unless the manufacturer or manufacturer’s representative organization is implementing an approved program plan as required by RSA 149-M:66.”
RSA 149-M:68

Official record

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Karen EbelDPrimeDemocratic Leader Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Anita BurroughsDRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Carry SpierDDeputy Ranking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Rep. Peter BixbyDRanking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip

Also: Rep. Dick ThackstonR, Rep. Peter LeishmanD, Rep. Megan MurrayD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

48 signed in online · 11 wrote testimony

96% support4% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill that paint retailers and manufacturers are in agreement on. There's a need to have environmentally safe practices to deal with leftover paint and paint cans.…”
— Nancy Miles, Hanoversupports
“I support this bill because it requires environmentally responsible practices in disposing of paint cans and leftover paint. it is hard to believe anyone could oppose it.”
— Shirley Montgomery, Hanoversupports
“This sounds like a win win situation and environmentally responsible.”
— Sarah Young, Hanoversupports
“This is a sales tax just like the absurd oil fee, which Walmart incorrectly computes on 5 quart jugs by the way. I still have spray paint cans that are 20 years old and I'm still using them.…”
— Simon Berrio, Daltonopposes

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 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Refer for Interim Study16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteRefer for Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs3:16:40–3:17:491m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs4:09:31–4:10:381m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Refer for Interim Study; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamRefer for Interim Study — 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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 1 P. 10
  2. Jan 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/15/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 01/22/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
  5. Feb 4, 2026House: Refer for Interim Study 02/04/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 7 P. 4
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseRefer for Interim Study: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 5

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • PaintCareProgram operator

    PaintCare — The industry-run program that would have administered a New Hampshire paint plan, with per-container fees by state.AI-generated

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — The federal framing of producer responsibility and waste diversion.AI-generated

  • Product Stewardship Institute — The organization behind most state EPR laws, with a state-by-state view of paint programs.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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