HB 1544 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2785
04/09
HOUSE BILL 1544
AN ACT prohibiting the use of scented products in public areas of state buildings.
SPONSORS: Rep. Prout, Hills. 13; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. Seaworth, Merr. 12; Rep. Flanagan, Hills. 45; Rep. A. Murray, Hills. 20
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the use of scented products in public areas of state buildings.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2785
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT prohibiting the use of scented products in public areas of state buildings.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
I. Scented products, including air fresheners, scented flame or flameless wax products, oils, hand sanitizers, and scented cleaning products, can be an irritant or trigger a reaction in people with certain medical conditions, such as asthma or allergies.
II. The American Medical Association has recommended government agencies support the use of fragrance-free products.
III. To ensure that state government is, to the greatest extent possible, open to all the people, including those with medical conditions aggravated by scented products, the general court finds that limiting the use of fragrance-containing products would serve the public interest.
2 New Subdivision; Fragrance-Free Requirements in State Buildings Open to the Public. Amend RSA 155 by inserting after section 83 the following new subdivision:
Fragrance-Free Requirements in State Buildings Open to the Public
155:84 Fragrance-Free Requirements in State Buildings Open to the Public.
I. In this section:
(a) "Open to the public" means buildings, or areas of buildings, that maintain regular hours during which any member of the public may visit, or that are routinely used for appointments with members of the public.
(b) "Fragrance dispensing devices" means automatic, manual, or reactive devices that dispense a scent into the air, including but not limited to plug-in air fresheners, wall-mounted dispensers, and aerosol sprays.
II. Not more than one year from the effective date of this section, in all areas of buildings owned or operated by the state that are open to the public, the state shall:
(a) Use only fragrance-free cleaning products;
(b) Provide only fragrance-free products in restrooms and any other personal hygiene locations; and
(c) Prohibit the use of fragrance dispensing devices.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 15, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/28/2026 02:20 pm GP 231
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration