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New HampshireHB6312025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

HB631

Sponsored By: Alissandra Murray (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bonus units for affordable homes

Beginning January 1, 2026, developers in qualifying towns can add extra homes when they include affordable units. They can add two extra homes for each unit reserved at or below 80% of area median income. They can add three extra homes for each unit reserved at or below 60% of area median income. Town height limits cannot be used to block these added units.

By-right apartments in urban commercial zones

Beginning January 1, 2026, apartments and mixed-use buildings are permitted by right on some commercial lots. This applies in towns that meet the law’s U.S. Census urban-area and population test. The parcel must have both municipal water and sewer and be zoned commercial, office, retail, or parking. Permitted by right means approval without a public hearing or special zoning permit, if the site plan meets rules. The law also defines key terms like adaptive re-use, mixed-use, multifamily, and affordable homes at 80% and 60% of area median income.

Cuts to local zoning barriers

Beginning January 1, 2026, qualifying towns cannot set minimum or maximum housing density for these projects. They cannot cap building height below 65 feet. They cannot require minimum lot sizes or cap lot coverage. Setbacks cannot be larger than utility easements, 10 feet, or the existing setbacks for an adaptive re-use. Towns also cannot force private common areas or require walls, fences, screening, or impervious pavement, except for disability needs or proven health and safety.

Limited retail, parking, and design rules

Beginning January 1, 2026, qualifying towns may require up to 20% of ground-floor space be retail. They may require on-site parking, but the owner decides the parking location and size, unless federal law says otherwise. Towns may set siting and design rules, but those rules cannot add unreasonable costs or delays that discourage building.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Alissandra Murray

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Christine Seibert

    Democratic • House

  • David H. Watters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Diane Pauer

    Republican • House

  • Heath Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Jessica Grill

    Democratic • House

  • Jodi K Newell

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Sweeney

    Republican • House

  • Kris Schultz

    Democratic • House

  • Ross Berry

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 201; eff. 07/01/2026 HJ 18

    7/22/2025House

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58

    6/30/2025House

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

    6/30/2025Senate

  4. Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/08/2025; SJ 12

    5/8/2025Senate

  5. Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/08/2025, Vote 5-1; SC 20

    4/29/2025Senate

  6. Hearing: 04/10/2025, Room 100, SH, 10:15 am; SC 16

    4/3/2025Senate

  7. Introduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 9

    3/24/2025Senate

  8. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0667h: MA DV 204-134 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 96

    3/20/2025House

  9. Indefinitely Postpone (Rep. Kuttab): MF RC 128-211 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 94

    3/20/2025House

  10. Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT): AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 93

    3/20/2025House

  11. Removed from Consent (Reps. Kuttab, Bridle, Bordes, Panek, Coker, Popovici-Muller, Tenczar, Seidel, L. Walsh, Perez) 03/17/2025 HJ 8 P. 3

    3/17/2025House

  12. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0667h (NT) 03/04/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC)

    3/10/2025House

  13. Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305

    3/10/2025House

  14. Full Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 305

    2/5/2025House

  15. Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305

    1/29/2025House

  16. Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Housing HJ 3 P. 19

    1/16/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    6/30/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    1/16/2025

    PDF

  • CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION

    PDF

  • Version adopted by both bodies

    PDF

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