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HB 1478 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

New rules for proposed landfills

AI-generated

requiring the department of environmental services to revise the rules for proposed new landfills.

Requires the department of environmental services to revise rules for proposed new landfills to avoid significant harm to human health and the environment and requires the solid waste division to consider health and environmental effects in future rulemaking.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

The bill requires the department to modify rules to avoid significant harms to human health and the environment, and changes the enabling statute of the department of environmental services solid waste division to require the department to consider health and the environment when making future rules.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Such rules shall promote the hierarchy established under RSA 149-M:3 and shall develop and enforce siting, design, operation, and closure requirements.”
Section 2
“The department shall establish a site-specific setback distance for any proposed new landfill from any drinking water wells, perennial river, lake, or coastal water of New Hampshire, as defined in RSA 483-B:4, XVI.”
Section 3
“The department [may] shall deny a permit application under this section to a person if any of the following applies:”
Section 4
“The commissioner shall have the responsibility and authority to adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, that are necessary to protect the public health and the environment with an ample margin of safety relative to this chapter, including rules relative to:”
Section 5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kelley PotenzaRPrime
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Liz BarbourRVice Chair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Anita BurroughsDRanking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Seth KingRClerk· Environment and Agriculture
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. James GruberD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

66 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

98% support2% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“establishing specific setback distances from drinking water sources and other water bodies, calculated based on science is completely reasonable and we need to do things this way.”
— Sharon Racusin, Hanoversupports
“We must better protect our critically important drinking water sources and other water resources. The health of our communities depends on active involvement in regulation.…”
— Susan Raymond, Tamworthsupports
“I strongly support this bipartisan bill. There's an urgent need for revising landfill bills to establish specific setback distances from drinking water sources and other water bodies for any proposed landfill sites.…”
— Nancy Miles, Hanoversupports

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
  • Mar 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0975h12–1
    Overall
    92% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0975hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0975hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateRoll callRefer to Interim StudyAdopted13–9How they voted
    Overall
    59% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    13–193% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 24, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture3:09:33–3:15:376m 4slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:48:04–1:52:424m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0975h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0975h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0975h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources2:20:16–2:23:002m 44slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:37:05–4:44:417m 36slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, roll call 13-9

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 Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 22
  2. Feb 24, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/24/2026 01:00 pm GP 153
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/03/2026 10:15 am GP 153
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:15 am GP 153
  5. Mar 3, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0975h 03/03/2026 (Vote 12-1; CC) HC 10 P. 17
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0975h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 34
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0975h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 34
  8. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
  9. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 14
  10. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 17
  11. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, RC 13Y-9N, MA; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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