CHAPTER 302
HB 1362 - FINAL VERSION
11Mar2026... 1022h
05/07/2026 1613s
4Jun2026... 2165EBA
2026 SESSION
26-3082
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1362
AN ACT relative to motor vehicle equipment specifications.
SPONSORS: Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes motor vehicle standards for tire tread depth and brake lining measurements and inspection standards for vehicle steering and suspension systems.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 1022h
05/07/2026 1613s
4Jun2026... 2165EBA 26-3082
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to motor vehicle equipment specifications.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
302:1 New Section; Equipment of Vehicles; Tire Tread Depth. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 48 the following new section:
266:48-a Tire Tread Depth; Measurement Requirements.
I. No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon any way unless each tire mounted thereon has a minimum tread depth of not less than 2/32 of an inch.
II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, this section shall not apply to:
(a) Commercial motor vehicles, as defined in RSA 259:12-e, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
(b) School buses, as defined in RSA 259:96, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
(c) Mixed use school buses, as defined in RSA 259:96-a, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
302:2 New Section; Equipment of Vehicles; Brake Performance; Brake Lining Measurements. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 28 the following new section:
266:28-a Brake Lining Measurement; Lining Thickness.
I. No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon any way unless the brake lining or friction material at each wheel has a minimum thickness of 2/32 of an inch.
II. Brake lining measurements shall be performed using a brake gauge, caliper, or other suitable measuring device calibrated in thirty-seconds of an inch.
(a) For brake shoes or disc brake pads with riveted linings, measurements shall be taken to the top of any rivet head.
(b) For brake shoes or disc brake pads with bonded linings, measurements shall be taken at the thinnest point of the friction material.
III. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, this section shall not apply to:
(a) Commercial motor vehicles, as defined in RSA 259:12-e, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
(b) School buses, as defined in RSA 259:96, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
(c) Mixed use school buses, as defined in RSA 259:96-a, that exceed 10,000 pounds in weight.
302:3 New Subdivision; Steering and Suspension. Amend RSA 266 by inserting after section 117 the following new subdivision:
Steering and Suspension
266:118 Steering and Suspension Standards.
I. No vehicle shall be operated on the ways of this state if, upon inspection, any of the following conditions are found:
(a) Steering linkage free-play exceeds the manufacturer's specifications.
(b) Any wheel bearing that is not within the manufacturer's tolerance for looseness.
(c) Any ball joint is broken, cracked, or exceeds the manufacturer's specifications.
II. For purposes of this section, "manufacturer's specifications" means the tolerances and standards established by the original equipment manufacturer for the safe operation of the specified system or component.
302:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 10, 2026
Effective Date: July 10, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | 2026-1022h |
| April 22, 2026 | 2026-1613s |
| June 16, 2026 | 2026-2165EBA |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 7, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 16, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 302; eff. 7/10/2026
July 1, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
June 30, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
June 17, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2165e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 17, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2165e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
May 21, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1613s (Rep. T. Walsh): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1613s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 5, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1613s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 24, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1613s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
March 31, 2026: Hearing: 04/07/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 01:20 pm; SC 13
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1022h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 57
March 11, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1022h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 57
March 11, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1022h (NT) 03/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 10 P. 28
Feb. 18, 2026: Executive Session: 03/03/2026 11:00 am GP 234
Feb. 11, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/17/2026 02:00 pm GP 234
Dec. 2, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 17