HB 1726 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Selling surplus state-owned land

(Second New Title) relative to the sale of surplus state-owned land and establishing a commission to study the sale of state-owned property.

Directs proceeds from the sale or lease of surplus state-owned land to the originating department's fund and establishes a commission to study the sale of state-owned property.AI-generated

Status

Vetoed; the override vote failed, so the veto stands · August 19, 2026

✓Introduced
✓House
✓Senate
✕Governor
Law

Governor's veto message

“I agree that we need to improve the management of state-owned assets such as surplus land. However, the change of law in this bill limits the proceeds of sales or leases to the fund originally used to purchase the property. This is not an efficient or fiscally prudent structure for allocating revenues and does not improve state management of surplus land. For that reason, I am vetoing House Bill 1726.”

— Gov. Kelly Ayotte · Jun 19, 2026 · excerpt

Governor's press release

The House voted 101–206 on the override (Aug 19, 2026) — short of the two-thirds required, so the veto was sustained. See the roll call.

A passage from the Governor's veto message, quoted verbatim. The full message enters the record on veto day.

Analysis

This bill requires that proceeds from the sale or lease of surplus state-owned land be credited to the originating department's fund. This bill also establishes a commission to study the sale of state-owned property.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as passed by both chambers.

“proceeds from the sale, conveyance, transfer, or lease under this section shall be credited as restricted revenue to the fund from which the property was originally purchased or that supported its acquisition.”

RSA 4:40, III-b

Directs money from disposing of surplus state land back to the department whose fund originally paid for it.AI-generated

“There is established a commission to study the sale of state-owned property for the purpose of building housing and infrastructure which supports such housing.”

RSA 4:39-h, I

Creates the study commission and defines its housing-focused purpose.AI-generated

“The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.”

RSA 4:39-h, VI

Sets the commission's reporting deadline and recipients.AI-generated

“RSA 4:39-h, relative to commission to study the sale of state owned property, is repealed.”

Section 4

Provides for the commission to sunset after its work concludes.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

16 signed in online

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

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 # 2026-0966h17–0
Overall
100% yea
Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0966hadopted
Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0966hadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
Apr 23, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504s5–0
Overall
100% yea
Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1504sadopted
Apr 23, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504sadopted
Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
May 7, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1504s (Rep. Alexander Jr.)adopted
Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2124eadopted
Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted
Aug 19, 2026HouseRoll callOverride the veto — shall the bill become law notwithstanding the objectionsFailed101–206How they voted
Overall
33% yea
Party-line vote
Republicans
99–7158% yea
Democrats
2–1351% yea

Hearings and debates

Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse HousingWatchno transcript for this stream — opens at the startPublic Hearing
Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing2:25:48–2:27:502m 2slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0966h; Executive Session
Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0966h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0966h — adopted, voice vote
Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Commerce2:32–16:5814m 26s
Apr 23, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1504s — adopted, voice vote
May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor32:19–33:0849s
May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2124e — adopted, voice vote
May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2124e Adopted — voice vote
Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote
Aug 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:35:27–4:36:441m 17slocated in the stream transcriptVeto Sustained — roll call 101-206

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 Housing HJ 1 P. 33
Feb 17, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/17/2026 10:00 am GP 231
Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
Mar 3, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0966h 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 25
Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0966h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 51
Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0966h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 51
Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7
Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 13
Apr 23, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504s, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15
Apr 23, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1504s, AA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
Apr 23, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1504s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/23/2026; SJ 10
May 7, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1504s (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 5
May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2124e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/21/2026); SJ 14
May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2124e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 39
Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
Jun 19, 2026HouseVetoed by Governor Ayotte 06/19/2026
Aug 19, 2026HouseVeto Sustained 08/19/2026: RC 101-206 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote HJ 16

Coverage

HB 1726 (2026) | NH Legislation | Citizens CountCitizens Count
As amended the bill would require proceeds from the sale or lease of surplus state-owned land be credited to the originating department's fund, and it was vetoed by the governor.AI-generated
'Every little bit helps': Lawmakers explore offloading New Hampshire's surplus property for affordable housingConcord Monitor · Feb 18, 2026
The article covers HB 1726, sponsored by Rep. Chris Muns, which sought to direct state agencies to identify surplus properties suitable for development as affordable housing.AI-generated

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

New Hampshire Surplus Land Review ProcessNH context — official
NH Dept. of Business & Economic Affairs — State info sheet describing how surplus land moves through the Council on Resources & Development and the Long Range Capital Planning committee.AI-generated
Disposal and Taxation of Public Lands ActSupporters
American Legislative Exchange Council — Model legislation arguing for transferring or selling idle public land to return it to productive, taxable private use.AI-generated
Congress is making more than 250 million acres of public lands available for saleCritics
The Wilderness Society — Conservation group's case against large-scale public land sales and the loss of public access they warn would follow.AI-generated
State Efforts to 'Reclaim' Our Public LandsCritics
Center for American Progress — Argues that transferring and selling public lands risks conservation values and public recreational access.AI-generated
Land Disposal Policies of the Principal Federal Land-Managing AgenciesExplainer
Congressional Research Service (via National Agricultural Law Center) — Reference report on how governments identify surplus land and the legal mechanisms used to dispose of it.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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