Several bills introduced this session sought to undo hard-fought housing reforms enacted in 2025. Fortunately, the New Hampshire House of Representatives moved swiftly to stop many of these proposals. Last week, the full House voted down a number of bills, including:
- HB 1098 :Would have eliminated the newly granted ability to build on a Class VI road.
- HB 1016: Would have made the construction of manufactured housing more difficult and costly.
- HB 1009: Would have increased minimum parking requirements for housing units.
- HB 1011 / HB 1012: Both bills were intended to roll back accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rights.
New Hampshire Association of Realtors testified in opposition to each of these bills.
While additional proposals remain under consideration that would restrict private property rights and housing opportunity, the decisive rejection of these measures suggests that such efforts face a steep uphill climb this session.
Manufactured housing, by right
Over the past five years, the median sales price of a single-family home in New Hampshire has risen by roughly 50 percent. During that same period, the median price of manufactured housing has increased by more than 110 percent — a clear signal that demand for more affordable housing options is intensifying.
House Bill 1357 recognizes this reality, stating:
“New manufactured homes are a quality, affordable, durable, and attractive option for homeownership across New Hampshire. Allowing more manufactured homes will help to alleviate the state’s housing shortage and enable more Granite Staters to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.”
The bill would require that manufactured homes placed on their own lots be permitted as a matter of right in all residential zoning districts. NHAR testified in support of the legislation.
A nearly identical bill passed both the House and Senate in a prior session but failed to reach the Governor’s desk due to last-minute procedural maneuvering. The House is expected to take action on HB 1357 in the coming weeks.
Funding cyanobacteria mitigation
House Bill 1477 addresses the ongoing problem of cyanobacterial blooms that periodically force lake closures across the state. While the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund was created to assist lake communities, it has lacked a dedicated funding source and has now been depleted.
HB 1477 would establish a $50 annual permit for private anchored seasonal platforms, with proceeds split between the navigation safety fund (to support Marine Patrol operations) and the cyanobacteria mitigation fund. NHAR supported this proposal.
The House passed the bill last week, with revenues projected to generate approximately $75,000 annually for cyanobacteria mitigation. Final House action is expected later this week.
House sends a clear message: Local control has limits
House Resolution 30 was introduced as a protest against recent legislative efforts to expand housing opportunity statewide. The resolution argued that the legislature was “chipping away” at municipal zoning authority under the guise of property rights.
The House overwhelmingly rejected that argument, voting down the resolution by a margin of 274-72.
Opponents correctly noted that New Hampshire’s Constitution vests ultimate zoning authority in the state, with municipalities exercising only those powers expressly granted by the legislature.
The New Hampshire Supreme Court has reinforced this principle, writing:
“The Zoning Enabling Act, RSA 674:16–21, authorizes only use-based and dimensional land-use regulation grounded in legitimate public health, safety, and welfare objectives ... zoning provisions deployed as blunt tools to suppress housing production ... exceed the scope of the enabling act ... towns may not refuse to confront the future by building a moat around themselves and pulling up the drawbridge. ... Municipalities are not isolated enclaves; their regulations must promote the general welfare both within and without their boundaries.”
Quote of the Week
“The number one area we need to succeed to keep our state on a strong track is housing. Doing so will help us grow our workforce, attract more businesses, and bring more families to New Hampshire. We want our seniors to be able to afford to stay in their homes, or choose a home that suits them better as they age. We want businesses to be able to recruit and retain the best and the brightest to come work here. And as parents, we want our children to stick around and build their future here.”
— Governor Kelly Ayotte, State of the State Address, Feb. 25, 2026
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For more information, contact New Hampshire Realtors CEO Bob Quinn: bob@nhar.com.