CACR16 Relating to property. Providing that individuals may sleep on property they own or have a legal right to occupy.
Relating to property. Providing that individuals may sleep on property they own or have a legal right to occupy.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Concerning
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
No direct financial impact on taxpayers or household costs is apparent from the bill text.
Your Community
The bill does not address or change services, schools, or community programs.
Your Freedom
Creates a constitutional protection for sleeping on owned or legally occupied property, though the voters' guide states no explicit prohibition currently exists, making the real-world protection modest.
Status
Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
Sponsor
Ellen Read (D)
The Short Version
This constitutional amendment would create an explicit right for property owners and those legally entitled to occupy property to sleep on that property without local ordinances prohibiting it based solely on sleeping. It goes to voters in November 2026 and requires 2/3 approval. The practical impact is unclear since the analysis states no current law explicitly prohibits this activity.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Property owners seeking constitutional clarity that sleeping on their own property cannot be prohibited based on sleeping alone
- ▲ Those with legal occupancy rights who may face ambiguous local restrictions
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Potentially local municipalities if they currently rely on ordinances tied to sleeping/loitering that would be invalidated
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.