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HB 410 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Limiting local housing restrictions

AI-generated

(New Title) limiting local authority to adopt restrictions on the building and development of residential properties.

Prohibits municipalities from adopting extraordinary restrictions on residential property development unless narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety interest.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · January 7, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the local adoption of extraordinary restrictions on residential property unless the restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest in public health or safety.

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

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the local legislative body of a city, town, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places may adopt an extraordinary restriction of residential property only if the restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest in public health or safety.”
RSA 674:17-a
“Evidence such as written findings of fact, scientific studies, or other quantitative and empirical evidence, may be relevant to whether an extraordinary restriction of residential property is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest in public health or safety, but are not necessarily dispositive.”
RSA 674:17-a
“For the purposes of this section, “extraordinary restriction of residential property” means any ordinance or regulation that contains any of the following:”
RSA 674:17-a
“Upon the effective date of this section, any extraordinary restriction of residential property shall not be enforced unless it meets the requirements of paragraph I.”
RSA 674:17-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Ellen ReadDPrimeDeputy Ranking Member· Housing

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 13, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0979h (NT)17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0979hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0979hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Rereferred to Committee5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteRereferred to Committeeadopted
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing1:31:47–1:32:551m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Housing4:59:34–5:04:575m 23slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0979h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0979h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Commerce1:18:15–1:22:524m 37slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Rereferred to Committee; Rereferred to Committee — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 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 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 3 P. 8
  2. Feb 18, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 305
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/04/2025 02:00 pm LOB 305
  4. Mar 13, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/13/2025 12:10 pm LOB 305
  5. Mar 13, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0979h (NT) 03/13/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 17 P. 20
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0979h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 35
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0979h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 35
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 10
  9. Apr 10, 2025SenHearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:30 am; SC 16
  10. May 8, 2025Sen: Rereferred to Committee, 05/08/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 20
  11. May 8, 2025SenRereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  12. Jan 7, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 01/07/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 46
  13. Jan 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 01/07/2026; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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