HB 1425-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2457
04/09
HOUSE BILL 1425-FN
AN ACT relative to the development of an online wetlands permit processing system.
SPONSORS: Rep. Donnelly, Rock. 25
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill simplifies wetland permitting for small projects and gives the department of environmental services the authority to create an alternative adaptive permitting process for emergency or natural disaster response.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2457
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the development of an online wetlands permit processing system.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Water Management and Protection; Wetland Permitting Procedures. Amend RSA 482-A:11, III to read as follows:
III.(a) Upon written notification to the department by a municipal conservation commission[,] or a local river management advisory committee[, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council] that it intends to investigate any notice received by it pursuant to RSA 482-A:3, the department shall not make its decision on the application that is the subject of the notice until it has received and acknowledged receipt of a written report from such commission[,] or local river management advisory committee[, or the council], or until 40 days from the date of filing with the municipal clerk of such notice, whichever occurs earlier. In connection with any local investigation, a conservation commission may hold a public informational meeting or a public hearing, the record of which shall be made a part of the record of the department. If a conservation commission[,] or a local river management advisory committee[, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council] makes a recommendation to the department in its report, the department shall specifically consider such recommendation and shall make written findings with respect to each issue raised in such report which is contrary to the decision of the department. If notification by a local conservation commission[,] or local river management advisory committee[, or the New Hampshire Rivers Council] pursuant to this paragraph, is not received by the department within 14 days following the date the notice is filed with the municipal clerk, the department shall not suspend its normal action, but shall proceed as if no notification has been made.
(b) Relative to any [expedited] permit by notification under rules adopted in accordance with paragraph [VI] VI-a, the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall be modified as follows:
(1) The 40-day suspended action limit is reduced to 21 days; and
(2) The notification by a municipal conservation commission, or local river management advisory committee where applicable, of intended investigation shall be assumed unless the [application filed under RSA 482-A:3] notification was signed by the conservation commission, or, if one has not been established in the municipality, by the local governing body, or local river management advisory committee where applicable, in which case the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall not apply.
2 Water Management and Protection; Emergency Response Wetland Permitting. Amend RSA 482-A:11, VI and VI-a to read as follows:
VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing [an expedited application and permitting process for certain minimum impact projects. The provisions of RSA 482-A:3, I and paragraph III of this section shall apply.] an alternative, adaptive permitting process to authorize activities required to respond to an emergency or natural disaster. Such rules may allow for the ability to conduct certain activities prior to receiving authorization as necessary to protect public safety and property.
VI-a. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A establishing a permit by notification process for certain minor projects determined to have minimum impact [projects. The provisions of RSA 482-A:3, I(a) and (c) shall apply].
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2457
11/30/25
HB 1425-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the development of an online wetlands permit processing system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development