HB 617 (2025): relative to the homestead right.

HB 617 (2025)

relative to the homestead right.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Municipal and County Government
• Senate committee: Ways and Means
• Subject: Courts and Procedure
• Chapter law: 282

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Municipal and County Government committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 4, 2025, with 10 people signed in online: 4 in support and 6 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on February 18, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-0437h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 11–7. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-0437h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 6, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 6, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 216–146. It crossed to the Senate on March 6, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 16, 2025. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-1727s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-1727s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 1, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On May 1, 2025 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 22, 2025 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1727s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Steven Smith. On June 5, 2025 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Timothy Lang. A committee of conference met on June 17, 2025 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On June 26, 2025 the Senate adopted the conference report (2025-2791c) on a voice vote. On June 26, 2025 the House adopted the conference report (2025-2791c) on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on June 26, 2025 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on August 1, 2025, making it Chapter 282 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Melissa Litchfield (R - Rock 32) (prime sponsor)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 4, 2025, 1:00 PM: public hearing, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 307
• February 18, 2025, 1:00 PM: executive session, House Municipal and County Government, LOB 201
• March 6, 2025: floor debate, House
• April 16, 2025, 9:00 AM: hearing, Senate Ways and Means, SH 100
• May 1, 2025: consent calendar, Senate
• May 22, 2025: floor debate, House
• June 5, 2025: floor debate, Senate
• June 17, 2025, 10:00 AM: committee of conference, LOB 302-304

Votes

• March 6, 2025, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 216, nays 146, passed
• May 1, 2025, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1727s — voice vote, passed
• May 22, 2025, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1727s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• June 5, 2025, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• June 26, 2025, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 26, 2025, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 480:1
• RSA 480:4
• RSA 529:20-a

Related Bills

• HB 1591 (2012): relative to the homestead exemption amount.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 14, page 26
• SC 16
• SC 19