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HB 1273 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Municipal flood resilience incentives

AI-generated

enabling municipal support and incentives for residential flood resilience improvements.

Renames the coastal resilience zone to a flood resilience incentive zone, expands qualifying improvements and funding mechanisms, authorizes municipal flood resilience fees and revolving funds, and permits tax credits and special assessments for flood mitigation.AI-generated

Status

Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 27, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Renames the coastal resilience zone to a flood resilience incentive zone. II. Expands qualifying improvements and funding mechanisms. III. Authorizes municipal flood resilience fees and revolving funds. IV. Permits tax credits and special assessments for flood mitigation investments.

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

“A city or town may adopt the provisions of this section by vote of its legislative body, according to the procedures described in RSA 79-E:3, to establish a [coastal] flood resilience incentive zone ([CRIZ] FRIZ).”
Section 1
“In a city or town that has adopted the provisions of RSA 79-E:4-a, "qualifying [structure] improvements" also means potentially impacted structures identified by the municipality within the [coastal] flood resilience incentive zone established under RSA 79-E:4-a.”
Section 3
“Municipalities may use the New Hampshire Flood Hazards Viewer online tool developed by the New Hampshire floodplain management program to identify potentially impacted structures and the boundaries of such a FRIZ.”
Section 1
“Municipalities may grant tax relief to the property with qualifying improvements. as described in RSA 79-E:4 and this section.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Chris MunsDPrime
  • Rep. Jaci GroteDDemocratic Advisor
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Michael EdgarDDeputy Ranking Member· Public Works and Highways

Also: Rep. Peggy BalboniD, Rep. Nicholas BridleR, Rep. Will DarbyD, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Sen. Debra AltschillerD

Public testimony

16 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

88% support6% oppose6% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“We are witnessing more frequent flooding, so HB 1273 would help municipalities recognize and respond to their specific vulnerabilities.”
— Susan Richman, Durhamsupports
“Please SUPPORT this bill. This bill is bipartisan and enable incentives for residential flood resilience improvements. This is important to do ASAP as we are seeing stronger and stronger storms hitting NH every year with significant amounts of damage increasing.…”
— Donna Reardon, Concordsupports
“Ah ... Just don't build in the 100 year flood zones. Everybody knows where they are. Dumb decisions drive up insurance rates.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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: Inexpedient to Legislate12–5
    Overall
    71% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:15:34–1:22:076m 33slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:49:22–6:49:4624slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session

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. 13
  2. Jan 20, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:15 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 12-5; RC) HC 10 P. 104
  5. Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Ought to Pass

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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