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HB 1525 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Zoning rules for unrelated roommates

AI-generated

relative to zoning restrictions concerning dwelling unit occupancy.

Requires municipalities to allow at least 2 unrelated individuals per bedroom in single-family homes located within multi-family zones.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires municipalities to allow at least 2 unrelated individuals per bedroom in single-family homes located in multi-family zones.

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

“For purposes of this section, "bedroom" means a room primarily intended or designed for sleeping purposes, even if used for other purposes, and unless otherwise specified by local regulations.”
Section 1
“Nothing in this section shall prohibit the enforcement of the state building code or state fire code.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Wayne BurtonDPrime

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

43% support43% oppose14% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am neutral on this HB 1525 as I think this sentence of proposed Bill needs clarification: " but not necessarily all, land areas and lots in districts zoned to permit multi-family residential uses within the municipality."”
— Bruce Buttrick, Goffstownneutral

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 22, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 22, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing3:58:14–4:10:5012m 36slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — 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 Housing HJ 1 P. 24
  2. Jan 22, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2026 01:00 pm GP 231
  3. Jan 22, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/22/2026 01:00 pm GP 231
  4. Feb 22, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/22/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 7 P. 15
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 24

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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