CHAPTER 154
SB 153-FN - FINAL VERSION
03/13/2025 0759s
8May2025... 1876h
2025 SESSION
25-1051
11/08
SENATE BILL 153-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Rep. Milz, Rock. 13; Rep. R. Brown, Carr. 3; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires the commissioner of transportation to approve or deny permit applications for a driveway or public access to a way within 60 days of receipt of application and creates an expedited driveway permit for major entrances for parcels of land for residential use of 20 units or greater.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/13/2025 0759s
8May2025... 1876h 25-1051
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
154:1 Issuance or Denial of Permit for Access to Public Way; Time Frame. Amend RSA 236:13, IV-a to read as follows:
IV-a. For any existing or proposed residential use of land, including multifamily development that is not classified as a major driveway under the department's policy relating to driveways and access to the state highway system, the department shall issue or deny the permit described in paragraph II within 60 days of receiving a completed application.
154:2 New Paragraph; Expedited Permitting. Amend RSA 236:13 by inserting after paragraph IV-a the following new paragraph:
IV-b. For expedited permitting of major entrances for residential use of 20 units or greater:
(a) The commissioner of the department of transportation shall revise the department's policy for the permitting of driveways and other access to the state highway system to implement an optional program for the expedited permitting of major entrances for residential use of 20 units or greater, within 60 business days of approval of the traffic impact study.
(b) An applicant electing to use the expedited permitting process under this paragraph shall pay a $120 per unit non-refundable permit fee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of transportation, with approval of the governor and council, may adjust the fee in subparagraph (b).
(d) In addition to the permit fee in subparagraph (b), the applicant shall pay a retainer as formulated in the department's policy relating to the permitting of driveways and other access to the state highway system, for reasonable expenses incurred by the department for third-party professional engineer review and consultation during the expedited permitting process. All third-party review fees shall be tracked and a copy provided to the applicant. All unused retainages shall be refunded to the applicant within 120 days of the issuance of the permit.
154:3 Position Established. There shall be a classified position of business operations specialist established within the department of transportation, compensated under SOC 13, Broad Group 13-1190, Pay Band 6, for the purpose of administering the expedited permitting of major entrances under RSA 236:13, IV-b.
154:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.
Approved: July 07, 2025
Effective Date: October 05, 2025
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | 2025-0759s |
| May 1, 2025 | 2025-1876h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| March 13, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 27, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 22, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| April 29, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| April 29, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
July 8, 2025: Signed by the Governor on 07/07/2025; Chapter 0154; Effective 10/05/2025
June 24, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
June 25, 2025: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 26
June 24, 2025: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/12/2025); SJ 17
May 15, 2025: Sen. Ricciardi Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
May 8, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1876h: MA RC 293-61 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 52
May 8, 2025: FLAM # 2025-1876h (NT) (Rep. Milz): AA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 52
April 30, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/29/2025 (Vote 14-2; RC) HC 23 P. 15
April 30, 2025: Executive Session: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
April 11, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/29/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Public Works and Highways HJ 11 P. 111
March 27, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 19, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/27/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 14
March 13, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0759s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 13, 2025: Committee Amendment # 2025-0759s, AA, VV; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
March 7, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0759s, 03/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
March 5, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0759s; Vote 5-0; CC SC 12
Feb. 5, 2025: Hearing: 02/11/2025, Room 101, LOB, 01:00 pm; SC 9
Jan. 22, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 3