HB 1560 · 2026 · House · Transportation Committee
Restoring vehicle inspection requirements
AI-generatedrelative to annual motor vehicle inspection standards and reinstatement.
Reenacts motor vehicle inspection standards repealed in 2025, restoring administrative review of sanctions against inspection stations, a point system for dealer and inspection station violations, and the annual vehicle inspection requirement.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill reenacts the motor vehicle inspection standards that were repealed in 2025, 141:254-256.
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
“The commissioner or his designee shall affirm or modify such sanction as justice may require.”
“The director of motor vehicles may adopt rules pursuant to RSA 260:5 to establish 2 different uniform point systems for separately identifying automobile dealers and inspection stations that have violated the provisions of this title or rules adopted under this title.”
“The director may require the inspection of any vehicle, except an OHRV, snowmobile, moped, roadable aircraft, or any other vehicle exempted under this chapter, to determine whether it is fit to be driven.”
“The director of the division of state police, with the approval of the commissioner of safety shall assign a suitable complement of state troopers to assist the director of motor vehicles in enforcing the motor vehicle inspection laws and rules.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Jaci GroteDDemocratic Advisor
- Rep. John CloutierDRanking Member· Public Works and Highways
Public testimony
2,164 signed in online · 1,998 wrote testimony
89% support11% oppose0% neutral
ForSupport the amendment as minimal compliance with the court order
AgainstPredatory shops exploit inspections to charge for unneeded repairs
AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.
Read the argumentsIn their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I believe the state should be able to make and keep their own laws, the will of the people should be upheld.”
“As an inspector of 30 plus years I have seen lots of incredibly dangerous vehicles on the roads. New Hampshire is a salt state. Salt eats cars.…”
“NH should continue the NH State Inspection program. As someone who works at an automotive repair shop who primarily does service, repairs and maintenance - the public is underestimating how many unsafe vehicles are already on the road.…”
“I urge you to OPPOSE HB 1560, which seeks to reinstate the annual vehicle inspection. Government mandates just raise costs for the public.”
“A majority of states do not have vehicle inspections. We don't need them or to relitigate why. They were ended. Leave them that way.. Only lobbies special interests, or politicians who profit from them, want them back.”
“Just one more thing to tax the taxpayer on. First it passes now Dems want more money. As if the real estate tax isn’t enough. You are shameful!”
“Vehicle safety standards are important for public safety, but inspection requirements should be evidence-based, affordable, and not create unnecessary financial burdens for low-income drivers.”
“I support amendment 2026-0422H as a stop gap I am opposed to reinstating any form of OBDII testing in nh as it is fraught with scam and fraud with many check engine light failures being unfixable and not affecting vehicle safety or emissions”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–1Overall94% yea
- Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation51:29–54:343m 5slocated in the stream transcript==ROOM CHANGE== Public Hearing
- Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation1:46:04–1:47:231m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-0422h
- Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Transportation5:31:26–5:36:485m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 25
- Jan 27, 2026House==ROOM CHANGE== Public Hearing: 01/27/2026 10:40 am GP 232
- Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-0422h: 02/03/2026 11:20 am GP234
- Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234
- Feb 10, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/10/2026 (Vote 15-1; CC) HC 7 P. 22
- Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 36
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
- Inspections & emissionsPrimary source
NH Division of Motor Vehicles — The state's own account of what the inspection requirement is at any given moment.AI-generated
New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association — Why the repeal collided with a federal clean-air requirement, and what the injunction did.AI-generated
- Vehicle inspection in the United StatesBackground
Wikipedia — A survey of which states inspect and how the programs are structured.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.