SB 527 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
03/05/2026 0766s
2026 SESSION
26-2152
08/09
SENATE BILL 527
SPONSORS: Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill broadens the scope of what comprises notice from first class mail to all written forms of notice.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/05/2026 0766s 26-2152
08/09
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 Notice to Municipalities. Amend RSA 541-A:39, I-II to read as follows:
I. In addition to any other requirements imposed by this chapter, each agency shall [give] ensure written notice is provided to and afford all affected municipalities reasonable opportunity to submit data, views, or comments with respect to the issuance of a permit, license, or any action within its boundaries that directly affects the municipality. Such actions shall include those which may have an effect on land use, land development, or transportation; those which would result in the operation of a business; or those which would have an immediate fiscal impact on the municipality or require the provision of additional municipal services.
II. Each agency shall [give notice by first class mail] ensure written notice is provided to the town or city clerk. Written notice may be provided by electronic mail unless the town or city clerk notifies the state agency that it objects to notice by electronic mail. If the town or city clerk objects to written notice being provided by electronic mail, then written notice shall be provided by first class mail. Each state agency using electronic mail for written notice shall keep an up-to-date list of electronic mail addresses for each town or city clerk and a list of those towns or cities that object to electronic mail written notice.?
2 New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program; State Action; Notification of Rivers Coordinator; Petition for Review. Amend RSA 483:12-a, I-I-a to read as follows:
I. Any state agency considering any action affecting any river or segment designated under this chapter shall [notify] ensure that the rivers coordinator and the local river management advisory committee are notified prior to taking any such action. Such agency shall forward to the rivers coordinator and the local river management advisory committee for review and comment copies of all notices of public hearings, or, where a public hearing is not required, shall ensure that a copy of the application for issuance of a permit, certificate, or license within the designated river or corridor under RSA 485-C, RSA 485-A, RSA 483-B, RSA 12-E, RSA 270:12, RSA 482, RSA 482-A is provided, except notifications for minimum impact activities under RSA 482-A:3, V and XII and for routine roadway maintenance under RSA 482-A:3, XVI on land used for agricultural purposes, RSA 149-M, RSA 430, or RSA 147-A. If an agency is notified by the rivers coordinator that a proposed activity would violate a protection measure under RSA 483:9, 483:9-a, 483:9-aa, or 483:9-b, such agency shall deny the application.
I-a. State agencies shall develop, in conjunction with the rivers coordinator and the local river management advisory committees, the procedure by which the [state shall notify the] appropriate local river management advisory committee is notified when state action is being considered which affects a designated river.
3 Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act; Permit Required; Exemption. Amend RSA 483-B:5-b, IV-a to read as follows:
IV-a. [At the time of the permit application, the] The applicant shall provide postal receipts or copies, verifying that the governing body of the municipality or municipalities in which the property is located and the local river management advisory committee, if the project is within a designated river corridor defined in RSA 483:4, XVIII and contains river and river segments designated in RSA 483:15, and all abutters have been notified of the application by certified mail. Applicants for the construction of public roads, public utility lines and associated structures and facilities, and public water access facilities shall only be required to provide postal receipts or copies, verifying that the governing body of the municipality or municipalities in which the property is located, and the local river management advisory committee if the project is within a designated river corridor defined in RSA 483:4, XVIII and contains river and river segments designated in RSA 483:15, have been notified of the application by certified mail.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2026 | 2026-0681s |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | 2026-0766s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| Senate | Floor Vote | |
| April 1, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 1, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 1, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
April 9, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10
April 2, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/01/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC)
April 2, 2026: Executive Session: 04/01/2026 10:10 am GP 231
March 25, 2026: Public Hearing: 04/01/2026 10:10 am GP 231
March 16, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 8
March 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0766s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
March 5, 2026: Sen. Pearl Floor Amendment # 2026-0766s, AA, VV; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
March 5, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-0681s, AF, VV; 03/05/2026; SJ 5
Feb. 19, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0681s, 03/05/2026, Vote 4-0; SC 8
Feb. 19, 2026: Special Order to the Next Session, Without Objection, MA; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 19, 2026: SB 527 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 11, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0681s, 02/19/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 6
Jan. 20, 2026: Hearing: 01/28/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 3
Nov. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1