HB 272 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
2025 SESSION
25-0542
09/08
HOUSE BILL 272
AN ACT exempting certain agricultural practices from municipal noise regulation.
SPONSORS: Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Kenny, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill removes "quiet hours" language, exempting certain agricultural practices from municipal noise regulation.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0542
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT exempting certain agricultural practices from municipal noise regulation.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Powers and Duties of Towns; Power to Make Bylaws. Amend RSA 31:39, I(n) to read as follows:
(n) Regulating noise, except that no ["quiet hours"] ordinance or bylaw that attempts to regulate noise from activities related to farms, agriculture, and farming as defined in RSA 21:34-a shall be enforceable within a town. This exception shall not apply to agritourism as defined in RSA 21:34-a, II(b)(5).
2 Powers of City Councils; Bylaws and Ordinances. Amend RSA 47:17, XX to read as follows:
XX. No ["quiet hours"] ordinance or bylaw that attempts to regulate noise from activities related to farms, agriculture, and farming as defined in RSA 21:34-a shall be enforceable within a city. This exception shall not apply to agritourism as defined in RSA 21:34-a, II(b)(5).
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 30, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 10, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 1, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 1, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
April 21, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 19
April 3, 2025: Hearing: 04/10/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:15 am; SC 16
April 3, 2025: Hearing: 04/10/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:15 am; SC 16
March 11, 2025: Introduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
Feb. 20, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 9
Feb. 12, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/10/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 12 P. 8
Feb. 5, 2025: Executive Session: 02/10/2025 02:00 pm LOB 301-303
Jan. 22, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/30/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
Jan. 7, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 13