Ten bills became law in New Hampshire on May 20, including a measure tightening background check requirements for teachers and one requiring proof of citizenship for indigent voters. The day also brought several bills into committee review and revived two energy-related measures previously considered dead.
Signed into Law
- HB 1795 — Requires criminal background checks at each teaching license renewal, not just initial licensure.
- HB 365 — Requires proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, applying the requirement to indigent voters who may lack access to documentation such as passports or birth certificates.
- HB 1151 — Updates how conservation commissions receive and manage town appropriations for open space and natural resource protection.
- HB 1113 — Allows towns to set 3-year terms for town moderators, up from the current term length.
- HB 1118 — Raises the threshold for money that must be remitted to municipal treasurers, a technical update to local financial administration.
- HB 1175 — Strengthens laws against credit card skimming devices used in financial fraud.
- HB 1696 — Expands use of summonses instead of physical arrests for certain offenses.
- SB 503 — Updates building code standards for the use of spruce-pine-fir lumber in construction.
- HB 649 — Updates vehicle maintenance obligations for motor vehicle operators.
- HB 1190 — Allows the DMV to issue temporary traditional licenses for drivers approaching age 21, and updates fleet vehicle registration rules.
On the Move
- SB 548 — A bill setting contract standards between health insurers and providers — which can affect both provider pay and patient access — moved back into committee.
- SB 429 — A proposal to place trauma kits in public schools with state funding returned to committee for further review.
- HB 1748 — A bill to establish a state energy efficiency and resource development authority was revived after previously being considered dead.
- SB 112 — A measure addressing purchased power agreements for electric utilities was also revived for further study.
- SB 460 — A bill modifying the loitering and prowling criminal offense moved back into committee.
- SB 481 — Legislation governing the sale of the former Sununu Youth Services Center property returned to committee.
Want to know how your representatives voted on these bills? Find your NH House and Senate members at nhpolitics.org/find-your-rep.