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SB 418 · 2026 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Protecting homestead food product sales

AI-generated

(New Title) prohibiting municipalities from requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for the production and sale of homestead food products.

Prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for the production and sale of homestead food products.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 9, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits municipalities from requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for the production and sale of homestead food products.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Neither the governing body of a municipality nor the health officers of a town or city under RSA 47:12 shall make regulations requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for activities or products that are exempt under RSA 143A:12 or RSA 143-A:5, VII.”
Section 246:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair· Commerce
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Steven KesselringR, Rep. Kathleen PaquetteR, Rep. Mark WardenR

Public testimony

24 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“People have a God given right to freely contract - to buy and sell.…”
— Jim McKinley, Littletonsupports
“As someone who votes in every election, midterm, primary, local election and special election, I've seen lots of bake sales at the polls and bought their ware many times. I've never become ill as a result nor have I heard of it happening to anyone else.…”
— Julie Smith, Epsomsupports
“I write to respectfully urge you to oppose SB 418. At first glance, this bill appears to support small, home-based food producers.…”
— David Preece, Manchesteropposes
“I am a former State Representative and the former Deputy Director for the Manchester health Department. New Hampshire prides itself, at least in theory, on local control.…”
— Richard DiPentima, Portsmouth, New Hampshireopposes
“I find it deeply disturbing that people without any type of health and sanitation training will be allowed to make and sell anything they want from their home kitchens. Are the sponsors of this bill even familiar with food recall process and public notifications of illness?…”
— Flavia Martin, Nashuaopposes

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
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 5, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1481h (NT)15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1481hadopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1481hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 21, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 13, 2026Public hearingSenate Commerce1:22:06–1:32:2710m 21slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:54:32–1:59:505m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture54:22–59:124m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:35:21–1:35:4625slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture3:29:20–3:30:281m 8slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Apr 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture23:30–24:381m 8slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • May 5, 2026Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:27:50–1:33:455m 55slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1481h (NT); Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1481h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1481h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floor31:08–32:281m 20slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 1
  2. Jan 13, 2026SenHearing: 01/13/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 46
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 5 P. 124
  6. Mar 31, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/31/2026 10:30 am GP 153
  7. Apr 7, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/07/2026 01:00 pm GP 153
  8. Apr 14, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/14/2026 01:30 pm GP 153
  9. Apr 28, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  10. May 5, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 05/05/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  11. May 5, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 05/05/2026 10:00 am GP 153
  12. May 5, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1481h (NT) 05/05/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 19 P. 13
  13. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1481h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 20
  14. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1481h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 20
  15. May 21, 2026SenSen. Innis Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13
  16. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  17. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  18. Jul 2, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 246; Effective 07/02/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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