HB 1588-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
05/07/2026 1720s
4Jun2026... 2079CofC
2026 SESSION
26-3234
07/06
HOUSE BILL 1588-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25
COMMITTEE: Housing
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Allows local legislative bodies to regulate accessory parking for vehicles so long as they do not require that the parking space per unit be garaged.
II. Allows municipalities to impose limited requirements for multifamily housing within commercial districts in existence as of July 1, 2026.
III. Establishes special assessment districts and expands the housing infrastructure grant program to allow for municipal upgrades linked to new housing.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/07/2026 1720s
4Jun2026... 2079CofC 26-3234
07/06
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 Zoning; Grant of Power; Parking Ordinances. Amend RSA 674:16, VII to read as follows:
VII. In its exercise of the powers granted under this subdivision, the local legislative body of a city, town, or county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places may regulate accessory parking for vehicles, but shall not require more than one residential parking space per unit or require that the parking space per unit be garaged.
2 Multi-Family Residential Development on Commercially Zoned Land; Amendment to Zoning Regulations; Conversion of Multi-Family Dwelling Units Permitted. Amend RSA 674:80, IV to read as follows:
IV. [A municipality shall provide an exemption to any requirements regarding setbacks, height, or frontage of a building being converted to multi-family or mixed-use through adaptive reuse, provided that the building's floor area, height, and setbacks do not change.] Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter municipal authority under RSA 674:43, I to require site plan review for multi-family dwelling units. Consistent with the purpose of this section, for multi-family dwelling units proposed in commercial districts existing, created, or expanded after July 1, 2026, municipalities may impose frontage, setbacks, and height requirements; provided that such requirements shall not differ from what is allowed for commercial development. Multi-family dwelling units shall be allowed as a matter of right, and municipalities shall not enforce additional requirements unless expressly authorized by this section. Nothing in this section shall prohibit enforcement of applicable state fire, building, and other requirements under RSA 153, RSA 155-A, and RSA 485-A.
V. A municipality shall allow pre-existing nonconforming structures to be converted to multi-family dwelling units or mixed use provided that the structure’s envelope is not altered to further violate zoning district dimensional requirements.
VI. Any owner of commercially-zoned property improperly denied an application for multi-family housing, or who is subjected to requirements beyond those allowed in this section, and who is thereby required to file suit against the municipality in order to exercise the property rights thus recognized, shall be entitled to be reimbursed reasonable attorney's fees incurred as a direct result.
3 New Chapter; Special Assessment Districts. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 162-U the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 162-V
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS
162-V:1 Authority. The governing body of any city or town may enter into special assessment memorandums of understanding with 60 percent of properties' owners to establish special assessment districts and spending programs for the purpose of financing public infrastructure improvements necessary to serve new development.
162-V:2 Improvements Authorized.
I. Infrastructure improvements eligible for financing under this chapter shall include:
(a) Roads, sidewalks, street lighting, and traffic control devices;
(b) Water mains, sewer lines, stormwater management facilities, and related appurtenances;
(c) Utility extensions directly serving the district; and
(d) Streetscape or parking improvements incidental to development.
II. General government buildings, schools, or facilities that do not directly and specially benefit parcels within the district shall not be financed under this chapter.
162-V:3 Apportionment of Costs.
I. Assessments shall be levied only against properties that receive a direct and ascertainable benefit from the improvements.
II. The governing body shall determine the method of apportionment, which may include frontage, lot size, number of units, assessed value, or other reasonable metric.
III. No parcel shall be assessed in an amount greater than the special benefit conferred upon it.
162-V:4 Financing.
I. Municipalities may issue bonds to finance improvements within the district, to be repaid solely from assessments levied under this chapter.
II. Assessments may be collected in annual installments over a period not to exceed 20 years.
III. Assessments shall constitute a lien on the property with the same priority and enforcement as property taxes.
162-V:5 Procedure.
I. Establishment of a district shall require the governing body of any city or town to enter into special assessment memorandums of understanding with 60 percent of properties' owners.
II. Notice of the proposed district shall be mailed to each affected property owner and published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
162-V:6 Appeals. Any property owner subject to an assessment may appeal the apportionment of costs to the governing body within 30 days of notice, and thereafter to the superior court pursuant to RSA 677.
162-V:7 Dissolution. A district shall dissolve upon repayment of all obligations or earlier by vote of the governing body, provided all costs have been satisfied.
4 Department of Business and Economic Affairs; Expansion of Housing Infrastructure Municipal Grant Program. The department of business and economic affairs shall expand its housing infrastructure municipal grant program to allow for sewer, water, and road upgrades for new housing units.
5 Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Appropriation. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 is hereby appropriated to the department of business and economic affairs for the purpose of providing grants for sewer, water, and road upgrades for new housing units under its housing infrastructure municipal grant program. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-3234
05/08/2026
HB 1588-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1720s)
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||
METHODOLOGY:
The bill may result in a possible indeterminable increase in municipal expenditures. The bill indicates that any owner of commercially‑zoned property who is improperly denied an application for multi‑family housing is entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorney’s fees if legal action is required to exercise the property rights established in the RSA 674:80. Because the number of improper denials and amount of reimbursable legal costs cannot be predicted, the fiscal impact on municipalities is indeterminable.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
None
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 28, 2026 | 2026-1720s |
| May 26, 2026 | 2026-2079CofC |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report 2026-2079c: Adopted, RC 185-171 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 4, 2026: Special Order to next order of business (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 06/04/2026 HJ 15
May 29, 2026: Conference Committee Report # 2026-2079c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
June 1, 2026: Removed from Consent (Reps. Preece, Schamberg, Flanagan, Muns, E. Kelly, Rung, P. Brown, Stavis, Turcotte, Spier) 06/01/2026 HJ 14
May 28, 2026: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2079c; 06/04/2026
May 22, 2026: Conferee Change: Rep. Presa Replaces Rep. Cole 05/22/2026 HJ 14
May 26, 2026: Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:30 am GP 230
May 20, 2026: President Appoints: Senators Innis, Murphy, Reardon; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 20, 2026: Sen. Innis Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 18, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Alexander Jr., Cole, Sweeney, Hicks 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 18, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1720s and Requests CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1720s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1720s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 28, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1720s, 05/07/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 17
March 18, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 11
March 17, 2026: Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Commerce; SJ 7
March 11, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7
March 4, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/03/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 10 P. 24
Feb. 17, 2026: Executive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
Feb. 11, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/17/2026 01:30 pm GP 231
Dec. 10, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 27