HB 1468 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3061
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1468
AN ACT relative to municipal flood resilience planning and the use of planning grants.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vail, Hills. 6; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Cloutier, Sull. 6; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Berch, Ches. 6; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Sen. Ward, Dist 8
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes municipalities to include flood resilience planning in their master plans and expands eligibility for state housing planning grants to support flood hazard mitigation and related land use updates.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3061
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to municipal flood resilience planning and the use of planning grants.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Findings and Purpose. The general court finds that:
I. Municipalities across New Hampshire have suffered flood damage due to extreme weather events that overwhelm aging and insufficient stormwater infrastructure. Municipalities must develop prevention and mitigation strategies to protect the safety of their communities.
II. It is in the public interest to allow municipalities, at their local option, to plan proactively for flood resilience, ensuring protection of public safety, property, and municipal infrastructure without imposing new state mandates or costs.
2 Master Plan; Purpose and Description. Amend RSA 674:2, III(e) to read as follows:
(e) A natural hazards section which [documents the physical characteristics, severity, frequency, and extent of any potential natural hazards to the community. It should identify those elements of the built environment at risk from natural hazards as well as extent of current and future vulnerability that may result from current zoning and development policies] identifies areas susceptible to flooding, landslides, forest fire, or other hazards, assesses the risks, and proposes mitigation measures, including reference, where applicable, to any flood resilience planning conducted under RSA 674:2, III(o).
3 Master Plan; Purpose and Description. Amend RSA 674:2, III(o) to read as follows:
(o) A coastal and inland flood resilience management section, which may address planning needs resulting from projected coastal property or habitat loss due to increased frequency of storm surge, flooding, and inundation, as well as inland flooding, riverine inundation, erosion, and related hazards, and provide guidance for the protection of people, property, habitat, and infrastructure, including considerations for evacuation routes, emergency access, and public safety in areas subject to flood risk. Inclusion of such a section shall be at the option of the municipality as provided in this paragraph.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 5, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3
Jan. 29, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/20/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 5 P. 13
Jan. 22, 2026: Executive Session: 01/20/2026 10:25 am GP 154
Jan. 14, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:25 am GP 154
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government