CONCORD, NH — During the 2026 Legislative session, nearly 100 housing-related proposals were reviewed and voted on by the New Hampshire House and Senate. This memo outlines the legislative themes Housing Action NH tracked and the results of a successful pro-homes session. 

Housing Action NH Director, Nick Taylor, released the following statement:

“As this legislative session concludes, Housing Action NH is grateful for the lawmakers, advocates, and community partners who stood up for policies that help address New Hampshire’s housing shortage and expand housing opportunity. This year, critical pro-homes laws were protected and meaningful progress was made, including the preservation of the Housing Champions Program and technical improvements to the bipartisan Homes Near Jobs bill passed last year.

While significant challenges remain, this session demonstrated a continued commitment to advancing practical housing solutions and resisting efforts that would move us backward. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing the work to ensure that every Granite Stater has a place to call home.”

BACKGROUND:

Efforts to Repeal Housing Progress

  • HB 1005: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • As filed, this bill sought to repeal the commission to study the historical evolution of the New Hampshire zoning enabling act
  • HB 1009: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to undo progress made in regard to parking restrictions for development.
  • HB 1011: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to repeal occupancy protections.
  • HB 1012: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to repeal the use of attached and detached accessory dwelling units.
  • HB 1016: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to eliminate the requirement that municipalities allow for manufactured housing development opportunities.
  • HB 1196: Passed the House of Representatives. Failed in the Senate
      • This bill sought to overturn the successful Housing Champions Program.
  • HB 1496: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to repeal the cap on residential parking spaces.
  • HB 1619: The House of Representatives sent this bill to Interim Study
    • As filed, this bill sought to overturn New Hampshire’s workforce housing law.

Attainable Homeownership Options

  • HB 1357: The House of Representatives sent this bill to Interim Study
      • This bill sought to permit by right the placement of newly constructed manufactured homes in all residentially zoned areas.
  • SB 415: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
    • This bill reduces red tape for small- and mid-sized condominium developments.

More Tools for the Pro-Homes Toolbox

  • HB 1010: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill makes technical clarifications to last year’s residential-in-commercial-zones law (HB 631), including clearer standards around infrastructure adequacy, water access, wastewater disposal, and traffic impacts.
  • HB 1103: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill allows municipalities to utilize community revitalization tax relief credits on a wider variety of properties and structures.
  • HB 1461: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to encourage municipalities with sewage systems to extend system service to neighboring communities.
  • HB 1588: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill allows municipalities to conduct site plan review and impose frontage, setback, and height restrictions, but limits other restrictions in last year’s residential-in-commercial-zones law (HB 631), which will improve implementation and add clarity to state law. 
  • HB 1660: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to create a new municipal credit enhancement program for municipalities looking to help increase the economic viability of new housing development.
  • HB 1726: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill establishes a commission to study the sale of state-owned property
  • HB 1783: Failed in the House of Representatives
      • This bill sought to enable the department of environmental services to confer certain benefits to certain water-based infrastructure projects.
  • SB 564: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
    • This bill would prevent municipalities from imposing development restrictions on dead-end roads beyond applicable fire safety standards. It also alters how municipalities can regulate the placement of utilities in certain buffers and open spaces.

Private/Public Partnerships

  • HB 1042: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
    • This bill raises New Hampshire Housing’s debt limit, helping ensure the agency can continue financing affordable housing and homeownership opportunities across the state. The debt limit has no impact on the New Hampshire state budget or credit rating. 

Efforts to Destabilize Rental Housing Market

  • HB 348: Signed by Governor
      • This bill enables municipalities to establish residency requirements for local assistance.
  • HB 1336: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill allows landlords to charge tenants a two-month security deposit if they meet certain criteria. Current law prohibits more than a one-month security deposit.
  • HB 1499: Failed in Committee of Conference
      • As originally filed, HB 1499 sought to add additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute. The House and Senate were unable to reach an agreement on this bill as amended by the Senate, which combined expanded eviction criteria with expanded free and reduced-price lunch eligibility. 
  • HB 1598: Adopted by the Legislature; Going to the Governor
      • This bill amends various landlord-tenant laws to align state statutes with common judicial practices
  • HB 1709: Laid on the Table in Senate
    • This bill prohibits unlawfully present individuals who have been convicted of a felony and re-entered the country from renting property. The Senate added unrelated legislation related to pet vendor foster homes.

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Housing Action NH works to improve state and federal policy so everyone in New Hampshire has a place to call home.