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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.

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

Hearings

  • 2026-02-2411:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-03-0310:15 amHouse Environment and AgricultureGP 153Public hearing
  • 2026-04-149:00 amSenate Energy and Natural ResourcesSH 103Public hearing

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.