Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
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HB 1297 · 2026 · House · Judiciary Committee

Protecting public trust land from possession

AI-generated

relative to property owned pursuant to the public trust doctrine.

Prevents property owned pursuant to the public trust doctrine from being acquired through adverse possession.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 prevents a person from acquiring property owned pursuant to the public trust doctrine from being adversely possessed.

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

“No person shall acquire by prescription a right to any part of a town house, schoolhouse or church lot, property owned pursuant to the public trust doctrine, or of any public ground by fencing or otherwise inclosing the same or in any way occupying it adversely for any length of time.”
RSA 477:34

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. James NewsomDPrime

Public testimony

3 signed in online

67% support33% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate12–6
    Overall
    67% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary4:09:44–4:12:503m 6slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Judiciary49:13–50:231m 10slocated 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 Judiciary HJ 1 P. 14
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 01:30 pm GP 230
  3. Feb 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/13/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  4. Feb 13, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/13/2026 (Vote 12-6; RC) HC 10 P. 99
  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.