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HB 1622 · 2026 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Expanding landfill disposal capacity

AI-generated

requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.

Directs the department of environmental services to give first preference to applications for additional landfill capacity.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill directs the department of environmental services to give first preference to applications for additional landfill capacity.

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

“For an applicant seeking to expand an existing and fully permitted RCRA Subtitle D landfill, the department shall find that the expansion shall satisfy the state’s capacity need if, during the years for which the permit shall be granted, the state will face a capacity shortfall for at least one-half of those years.”
Section 2
“In its consideration of applications for additional landfill capacity in the state, the department of environmental services shall give first preference to expansions, where appropriate, in accordance with existing statutes and rules and consistent with any existing municipal agreements.”
Section 3
“For an applicant seeking to develop a new landfill at a site where none currently exists, the department shall find that the new project shall satisfy the state’s capacity need if, during the years for which the permit shall be granted, the state will face a capacity shortfall for at least one-half of those years.”
Section 2
“However, the department shall not allow the new landfill to begin accepting waste until the first year in which a shortfall is expected to exist.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Linda HaskinsDPrime
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Kelley PotenzaR, Rep. Wendy ThomasD, Rep. James GruberD, Sen. Donovan FentonD

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony

91% support9% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please support HB1622. It will protect vulnerable sites. For instance, There is no need to expand NCES in Bethlehem as there is enough capacity for NH waste at Carberry and Turnkey.…”
— Andrea Knowles, Bethlehemsupports
“The Bethlehem landfill is over capacity, and illegally has been accepting trash beyond the agreement with the town of Bethlehem and NCES. Mount Carberry has room for trash that Bethlehem can no longer take. We the town people have voted against expansion.…”
— Phyllis Bellavance, Bethlehemsupports
“This proposal is not practical or feasible without significant capital outlay as DES is understaffed. As the fiscal impact indicates implementing this bill would be absurdly expensive for the objectives its seeks to establish.”
— Clark Corson, Concord · Collaborative Solid Waste Strategiesopposes

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 10, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0629h (NT)13–1
    Overall
    93% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0629hadopted
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0629hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass25–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture6:28:29–6:30:171m 48slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Work Session
  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture20:22–21:321m 10slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session; Full Committee Work Session
  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:29:08–1:30:161m 8slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:38:27–1:41:393m 12slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0629h (NT); Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0629h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0629h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I2:24:18–2:24:5436slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance28:48–31:172m 29slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources1:37:16–1:58:5621m 40slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — 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 Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 28
  2. Jan 13, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/13/2026 01:45 pm GP 153
  3. Jan 20, 2026HouseFull Work Session: 01/20/2026 10:00 am GP153
  4. Jan 27, 2026HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 01/27/2026 09:00 am GP 153
  5. Jan 27, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  6. Feb 3, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
  7. Feb 10, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  8. Feb 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  9. Feb 10, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0629h (NT) 02/10/2026 (Vote 13-1; CC) HC 7 P. 12
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0629h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 17
  11. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0629h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 18
  12. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 39
  13. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  14. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  15. Mar 17, 2026House: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)
  16. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 3
  17. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
  18. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 14
  19. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 17
  20. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 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.