Revision: Dec. 17, 2025, 12:37 p.m.
HB 1622-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2561
08/09
HOUSE BILL 1622-FN
AN ACT requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.
SPONSORS: Rep. Haskins, Rock. 11; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Rep. Gruber, Ches. 16; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of environmental services to compile an inventory of all existing landfills, closed and functioning, and to determine the acreage available at each for additional capacity. This bill also prohibits the department from accepting any application for a new landfill unless the applicant can demonstrate that the land at any existing landfill is not suitable.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2561
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Paragraph; Solid Waste Disposal Capacity. Amend RSA 149-M:9 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph:
XVI.(a) The department shall compile a list of all existing landfills in operation, all closed landfills not in need of remediation, and all closed landfills that are in need of remediation. For each entry, the department shall determine the acreage of land available for additional landfill capacity at the site and shall consider all current regulations, including but not limited to setbacks to airports, water bodies, and homes.
(b) The department shall not accept any application for siting a new landfill in a greenfield unless the applicant can demonstrate that none of the land cataloged in subparagraph (a) is suitable.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2561
12/8/25
HB 1622-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT requiring the state to develop additional solid waste disposal capacity.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $4,220,000 | $4,256,000 | $4,268,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Solid Waste Management 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 requires the Department of Environmental Services to compile a comprehensive inventory of all existing landfills in the state, including operating landfills, closed landfills not in need of remediation, and closed landfills that may require remediation. For each site, DES must determine acreage available for additional landfill capacity and evaluate suitability under current DES regulatory requirements. The bill also prohibits DES from accepting applications for new greenfield landfills unless the applicant demonstrates that all cataloged sites are unsuitable.
The Department of Environmental Services states the work required under this bill is substantial and cannot be absorbed within existing resources. DES assumes the inventory would encompass approximately 375 landfills statewide and would require defining the criteria for identifying landfills in need of remediation, reviewing extensive municipal and state property records, conducting property visits, determining available acreage, and evaluating compliance with all applicable DES regulations related to solid waste, wetlands, alteration of terrain, water quality, and air resources. DES anticipates that a multi-year effort would be required to complete this work, including a seven-year schedule of consultant contracts to review documentation and conduct site investigations.
To implement the bill, DES states it would require two Environmental Scientists (19-2040 ENV SCIENTISTS-5 SOC19-08) to manage the program, oversee consultant contracts, conduct fieldwork, evaluate remediation needs, determine the suitability of each landfill, and manage document development and data tracking. The costs for these two positions is $220,000 in FY 2027, $256,000 in FY 2028, and $268,000 in FY 2029. It is anticipated the Solid Waster Management Fund would need to be used for the positions.
In addition to staffing, DES anticipates significant consultant costs. DES expects that approximately 280 of the 375 landfills will require formal site investigations at an estimated cost of $100,000 per site, resulting in total consultant costs of $28,000,000 over seven years, or $4,000,000 per year. Consultant contracting would begin once the new staff are hired and diagnostic work is underway. These expenditures would be funded from the Solid Waste Management Fund, as the bill does not establish a new revenue source. This bill does not authorize or fund positions requested by DES.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services