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New HampshireHB6172025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

relative to the homestead right.

Sponsored By: Melissa A. Litchfield

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Homeowners gain $1 million collection protection

Beginning January 1, 2026, New Hampshire raises protected home value from $120,000 to $1 million. A single person or married couple gets one exemption, not separate exemptions for each spouse. This protects home value from certain debt collection actions; it is not a cash payment. Before a court-ordered property sale, occupants must receive certified-mail notice explaining the $1 million exemption, alongside the standard sale notice. To claim it, occupants must tell the county sheriff and judgment creditor the claimed amount in writing. A pre-sale claim requires the sheriff to pay the exemption before the creditor, subject to court orders. The sheriff also needs a court order to sell below the claimed amount. If the creditor disputes eligibility or the amount, the sheriff must hold sale proceeds until the court gives further orders. Without a pre-sale claim, payment is delayed under rules tied to the debtor's one-year right to redeem the property.

More homes and medical debts qualify

Beginning January 1, 2026, homestead protection covers ownership interests in mobile homes, housing cooperatives, and condominiums used as dwellings. It also covers manufactured housing and the land beneath it when the homeowner owns that land. For unpaid medical bills, homeowners can claim the property's full market value against attachment or levy. That full-value protection also covers other debts directly caused by terminal or catastrophic illness or injury. The law's residence requirements and collection exceptions still apply.

Some debts bypass homeowners' collection protection

Beginning January 1, 2026, homestead protection does not erase debt; it only shields property from certain collection actions. Exceptions allow tax collection and enforcement of mortgages, construction or repair liens, and liens for forfeited bail or domestic support. Homeowner and condominium association liens for unpaid assessments, including collection costs, also bypass the protection. Debts already owed when the home was purchased are excluded, subject to the medical-debt exception in RSA 480:1, II. The law also preserves court-ordered collection sales allowed by the homestead chapter.

Home protection requires longer primary residence

Beginning January 1, 2026, your home must have been your primary residence for the previous 12 months continuously. This requirement limits which homes qualify for homestead protection. Sale proceeds and a replacement primary home stay protected when you reinvest those proceeds within 6 months.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Melissa A. Litchfield

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 282; eff. 01/01/2026

    8/11/2025House

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 63

    7/14/2025House

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18

    7/14/2025Senate

  4. Conference Committee Report 2025-2791c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 18

    6/26/2025House

  5. Conference Committee Report # 2025-2791c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17

    6/26/2025Senate

  6. Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2791c; 06/26/2025

    6/18/2025Senate

  7. Conference Committee Meeting: 06/17/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304

    6/17/2025House

  8. President Appoints: Senators Lang, Rochefort, Fenton; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16

    6/11/2025Senate

  9. Sen. Lang Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16

    6/11/2025Senate

  10. Speaker Appoints: Reps. Pauer, J. MacDonald, Litchfield, Girard 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53

    6/3/2025House

  11. House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1727s and Requests CofC (Rep. S. Smith): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53

    6/3/2025House

  12. Committee Amendment # 2025-1727s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11

    5/1/2025Senate

  13. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1727s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11

    5/1/2025Senate

  14. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1727s, 05/01/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19

    4/24/2025Senate

  15. Hearing: 04/16/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 16

    4/2/2025Senate

  16. Introduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 7

    3/11/2025Senate

  17. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0437h: MA RC 216-146 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 73

    3/6/2025House

  18. Amendment # 2025-0437h: AA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 73

    3/6/2025House

  19. Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate

    2/25/2025House

  20. Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0437h 02/18/2025 (Vote 11-7; RC) HC 14 P. 26

    2/25/2025House

  21. Executive Session: 02/18/2025 01:00 pm LOB 201

    2/12/2025House

  22. Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 307

    1/29/2025House

  23. Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 19

    1/16/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    7/14/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    1/16/2025

    PDF

  • CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION

    PDF

  • Version adopted by both bodies

    PDF

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