HB 1476 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2934
08/06
HOUSE BILL 1476
SPONSORS: Rep. Dunn, Rock. 16; Rep. Perez, Rock. 16
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill enables third-party payment for point-of-entry treatment system and water line installation in residences to expand access to clean drinking water.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2934
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Third-Party Payment for Water Treatment or Connection. Amend RSA 485-H by inserting after section 3 the following new section:
485-H:3-a Third-Party Payment for Water Treatment or Connection.
I. The department of environmental services shall permit the use of third-party funding to cover the cost of installing a point-of-entry treatment (POET) system or connecting a residential property to a public water system, provided such installation is necessary to ensure access to potable drinking water that meets state and federal standards.
II. For the purposes of this section:
(a) “Third-party” means any person, entity, nonprofit organization, or governmental body other than the property owner or the state.
(b) “POET system” means a water treatment system installed at the point where water enters a residence, designed to remove contaminants to meet applicable drinking water standards.
(c) “Water line hookup” means the physical connection of a residential property to a public water system.
III. A third party may enter into a written agreement with a property owner to finance or directly pay for the installation of a POET system or water line hookup. Such agreement may include terms for repayment, cost-sharing, or donation, and shall not be deemed a loan subject to RSA 399-A unless expressly structured as such.
IV. The department shall not prohibit or restrict the installation of a POET system or water line hookup solely on the basis that the cost is paid by a third party, provided the system meets all applicable technical and permitting requirements.
V. The department may adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement this section, including but not limited to:
(a) Minimum standards for third-party agreements;
(b) Notification requirements to the department;
(c) Procedures for ensuring system compliance and maintenance.
VI. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the eligibility of a property owner for any rebate, grant, or financial assistance program administered by the state or federal government.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 21, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 02:30 pm GP 228
Dec. 4, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development