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SB 564 · 2026 · Senate · Commerce Committee

Limits on municipal development restrictions

AI-generated

prohibiting certain municipal development restrictions.

Prohibits municipalities from limiting maximum road length or capping housing lots on dead-end roads when fire code standards are met, and requires municipalities to allow utility placement within buffer or conservation areas by special exception.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 15, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits municipalities from placing limits on maximum road length and imposing a numerical cap on the number of housing lots on a dead-end road or street. The bill also permits municipalities to place utilities within open space or perimeter buffer areas of subdivisions.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Daniel InnisRPrimeChair· Commerce
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Rep. Joe AlexanderRChair· Housing
  • Rep. Juliet Harvey-BoliaRDeputy Majority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Ellen ReadDDeputy Ranking Member· Housing

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Rep. John SellersR

Public testimony

51 signed in online · 20 wrote testimony

16% support84% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Municipalities should not impose arbitrary restrictions on road length, number of lots on dead-end streets, placement of utilities, or, frankly, anything else. This bill is a small step in the right direction.”
— Danny Abosch, Auburnsupports
“I believe there is a safety issue with long dead end roads -- and the Fire Code does not address road length. The potential for higher density housing to be built at the end of a long dead-end road would create problems and greater risks for a larger population living there.…”
— Sandra Crystall, Bowopposes
“Undermines safe, effective local planning by creating emergency-access risks and encouraging poorly connected high-density development. Conflicts with existing statutes allowing towns to prevent premature or inadequately serviced development.…”
— Rick Hiland, Albanyopposes
“By removing the municipality's ability to limit the length of dead-end roads this bill creates safety issues for access by first responders and does not allow the people that are most familiar with the existing conditions to make the decision on what is best for the community.…”
— Scott Butcher, Lyndeboroughopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-209:30 amSenate CommerceSH 100Public hearing
  • 2026-04-0710:00 amHouse HousingGP 231Public hearingrescheduled

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 1
  2. Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 1
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 5 P. 126
  6. Apr 7, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  7. Apr 7, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/07/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  8. Apr 7, 2026House: Ought to Pass 04/07/2026 (Vote 15-0; RC)
  9. Apr 23, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1600h (Rep. D. Paige): AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 60
  10. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1600h: MA DV 195-147 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 61
  11. Apr 23, 2026SenSen. Innis Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  12. Apr 23, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Innis, Murphy, Perkins Kwoka; (In Recess 04/23/2026); SJ 11
  13. May 7, 2026HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 39
  14. May 7, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Alexander Jr., Dumont, Reinfurt, Howland 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 39
  15. May 26, 2026Sen==RECESSED== Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/26/2026, 11:00 am, Room 153, GP
  16. May 28, 2026Sen==RECONVENE== Committee of Conference Meeting: 05/28/2026, 09:30 am, Room 153, GP
  17. May 28, 2026HouseConference Committee Report # 2026-2111c Filed 05/28/2026; House Amendment + New Amendment
  18. Jun 1, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Preece, Flanagan, Muns, E. Kelly, Rung, P. Brown, R. Brown, Stavis, Turcotte, Spier) 06/01/2026 HJ 14
  19. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2111c: Adopted, DV 190-166 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  20. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2111c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  21. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  23. Jul 10, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 07/10/2026; Chapter 316; Effective 04/01/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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