HB 1499-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
19Feb2026... 0490h
2026 SESSION
26-2449
06/07
HOUSE BILL 1499-FN
AN ACT relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute.
SPONSORS: Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Bean, Belk. 6; Rep. Beaulier, Graf. 1; Rep. Berry, Hills. 44; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Osborne, Rock. 2; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Lang, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Housing
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill allows eviction if a tenant uses someone else’s personal information to obtain the rental or if the tenant or an occupant has certain criminal convictions, including improper entry as a non-citizen or a conviction requiring registration as a sexual offender or offender against children. The landlord cannot use a conviction disclosed in writing before the start of the tenancy as grounds for eviction.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Feb2026... 0490h 26-2449
06/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraphs; Termination of Tenancy. Amend RSA 540:2, II by inserting after subparagraph (i) the following new subparagraphs:
(j)(1) Use of any personal identification that does not belong to the tenant or occupant to obtain or maintain a tenancy.
(2) Personal identification in this subparagraph includes but is not limited to any birth certificate, driver’s license, government identification, passport, social security number, or taxpayer identification number.
(k)(1) The tenant or any occupant of the rented premises has been convicted of any of the following:
(A) Improper entry by alien under 8 U.S.C. section 1325(a) and the conviction is less than 3 years prior to the service of the eviction notice;
(B) Any crime in state, federal, or tribal court where the maximum penalty provided is imprisonment in excess of one year and the conviction is less than 5 years prior to the service of the eviction notice;
(C) Any offense which requires registration as a “sexual offender” as defined by RSA 651-B:1, IV, unless registration is no longer required prior to the service of the eviction notice; or
(D) Any offense which requires registration as an “offender against children” as defined by RSA 651-B:1, VI, unless registration is no longer required prior to the service of the eviction notice.
(2) Any conviction disclosed in writing by the tenant or occupant to the landlord prior to the start of any tenancy shall prevent the landlord from later terminating the tenancy for any specific conviction disclosed.
(3) If any provision of this subparagraph or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the subparagraph which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subparagraph are declared to be severable.
2 New Paragraph; Termination of Tenancy. Amend RSA 540:2 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX. Any eviction brought pursuant to RSA 540:2, II(j) or (k) may name as defendant only the person or persons alleged to have violated RSA 540:2, II(j) or (k) with out naming remaining members of the household and the court may enter judgment against only the named defendants.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2449
2/24/26
HB 1499-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2026-0490h)
AN ACT relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | Indeterminable Increase $10,000 to $100,000 | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | General Fund | |||||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $500,000 to $1,000,000 | Indeterminable Increase $500,000 to $1,000,000 | Indeterminable Increase $500,000 to $1,000,000 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill expands the grounds for eviction to include use of another person’s personal identification to obtain or maintain a tenancy, certain criminal convictions within specified timeframes, including improper entry under federal law and other felony level offenses, and convictions requiring registration as a sexual offender or offender against children, subject to certain limitations.
The Judicial Branch states the bill would require modification of its case management system, updates to training materials and forms, and would increase the number of eviction cases filed statewide. The Branch notes that in 2024 there were 5,736 landlord-tenant cases filed, most of which were eviction actions, and that expanding eligibility for eviction will increase caseloads by an indeterminable amount. To the extent eviction filings increase, the Branch anticipates a need for at least one additional judge and several court operations specialists. Because the total increase in filings and their distribution across Circuit Court District Divisions cannot be precisely determined, the Branch estimates increased General Fund expenditures of an indeterminable amount of more than $500,000 and less than $1,000,000 per year.
The Judicial Branch also anticipates increased filing fee revenue from additional landlord-tenant filings. At the current filing fee of $150, the Branch estimates General Fund revenue will increase by an indeterminable amount of more than $10,000 and less than $100,000 annually.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2026 | 2026-0490h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 25, 2026: Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 5
Feb. 19, 2026: Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/19/2026 HJ 5
Feb. 19, 2026: Referred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0490h: MA RC 193-154 02/19/2026 HJ 5
Feb. 19, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0490h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5
Feb. 10, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 10, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0490h 02/03/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 7 P. 33
Jan. 28, 2026: Executive Session: 02/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:00 am GP 231
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing