SB 631 · 2026 · Senate · Transportation Committee
Toll credits for noise barriers
AI-generated(New Title) authorizing the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects.
Authorizes the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects, subject to sufficient toll credits for the state match.AI-generated
Status
Died on the table in the Senate · March 12, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕Senate
- House
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill authorizes the sale of toll credits to fund a newly established noise barrier construction fund for the design and construction of noise barrier projects, provided that there are sufficient turnpike toll credits for the state match for certain federal apportionment totals.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site
“The revenue from the sale of the turnpike toll credits shall be deposited into a restricted fund to be established and known as the noise barrier construction fund, said revenue to be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the department of transportation.”
“The commissioner is authorized to use said revenue for the design and construction of noise barrier projects that meet the Type II noise barrier criteria set forth in the department’s Policy and Procedural Guidelines for the Assessment and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise for Type I & Type II Projects, as updated and amended.”
“The commissioner may consider additional authorized adjustment factors for the determination of eligibility after consultation with an affected community concerning impacts to the community.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Sherman PackardRSpeaker of the House
- Rep. Wayne MacDonaldRChair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
Also: Rep. David LundgrenR
Public testimony
No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record
Votes
yeanay- Overall100% yea
- Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass7–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to PassadoptedResulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
- Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gray Moved Laid on Tableadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 20, 2026Public hearingSenate Transportation2:10:16–2:11:241m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:43:57–5:47:043m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0350s; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-0350s, and #2026-0487s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-0350s — adopted, voice vote
- Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:26:40–1:27:3252slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Gray Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1
- Jan 27, 2026Sen==CANCELLED== Hearing: 01/27/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 2
- Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 2
- Feb 5, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0350s, 02/05/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 4
- Feb 5, 2026SenSB 631 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
- Feb 5, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-0350s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
- Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Ricciardi Floor Amendment # 2026-0487s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
- Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-0350s, and #2026-0487s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
- Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/12/2026, Vote 7-0; SC 9
- Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
- Mar 12, 2026SenSen. Gray Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
- Mar 12, 2026SenPending Motion OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
The Pew Charitable Trusts — Explains how electric vehicles and better fuel economy are eroding the gas-tax revenue states rely on to fund roads.AI-generated
- Understanding New Hampshire's Gas TaxNH context — critics
Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy — Free-market policy center's explainer on how New Hampshire funds roads through the gas tax, tolls, and turnpike fund, and why revenue has lagged.AI-generated
- Bill proposes toll increase for out-of-state drivers to help fund NH highway upgradesNH context — supporters
New Hampshire Public Radio — Reports on a Senate proposal to raise tolls, largely on cash and out-of-state drivers, to fund the state's Ten-Year Plan.AI-generated
Business NH Magazine — Examines how underfunding of the state's Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan leaves needed projects unbuilt.AI-generated
- New TollsNH context
Citizens Count — Nonpartisan New Hampshire issue brief laying out arguments for and against raising turnpike tolls.AI-generated
Patch (New Hampshire) — Column on the legislative reaction after the governor's veto of the highway and Ten-Year Plan legislation.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
- Introducedversion
- As Amended by the Senateversion
- Amendment 2026-0350samendment
- Amendment 2026-0487samendment
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.