HB 244 (2026): updating and recodifying the municipal enforcement of the building and fire code.

HB 244 (2026)

updating and recodifying the municipal enforcement of the building and fire code.

• Status: Signed into law
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Executive Departments and Administration
• Senate committee: Election Law and Municipal Affairs
• Subject: Zoning and Planning
• Chapter law: 318

The Story

It was introduced on January 8, 2025 and referred to the House Executive Departments and Administration committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 22, 2025, with 4 people signed in online: 4 in support. The committee held a work session on January 28, 2025. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held a work session on October 1, 2025. The committee met in executive session on November 5, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted unanimously, 16–0, to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-2952h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-2952h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 3, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 4–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1025s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1025s) was adopted on a voice vote on March 12, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 12, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On April 23, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1025s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Erica Layon. On May 7, 2026 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. James Gray. A committee of conference met on May 20, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. The Senate adopted the conference report (2026-2006c) on a voice vote. On June 4, 2026 the House adopted the conference report (2026-2006c) on a voice vote. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2188e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 15, 2026, making it Chapter 318 of the session laws.

Sponsors

• Rep. Carol McGuire (R - Merr 27) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Keith Erf (R - Hills 28)
• Sen. Keith Murphy (R - SD16)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 22, 2025, 1:15 PM: public hearing, House Executive Departments and Administration, LOB 306-308
• January 28, 2025, 10:15 AM: subcommittee work session, House Executive Departments and Administration, LOB 104
• October 1, 2025, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Executive Departments and Administration, GP 231
• November 5, 2025, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Executive Departments and Administration, GP 231
• January 7, 2026: consent calendar, House
• March 3, 2026, 9:45 AM: hearing, Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs, SH 122-123
• March 12, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, House
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 20, 2026, 11:30 AM: committee of conference, GP 231

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-2952h — voice vote, passed
• March 12, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1025s — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1025s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• May 7, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• May 29, 2026, Senate: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed
• June 4, 2026, House: Adopt Conference Committee Report — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 147:16-a
• RSA 155:39-d
• RSA 155-A:1
• RSA 155-A:2
• RSA 155-A:3
• RSA 155-A
• RSA 155-A:4
• RSA 155-A:10-a
• RSA 155-A:11-b
• RSA 205-D:12
• RSA 310:14
• RSA 319-C:5
• RSA 319-C:5-a
• RSA 356-A:3
• RSA 672:7
• RSA 673:3
• RSA 673:10
• RSA 673:14
• RSA 673:15
• RSA 673:18
• RSA 673:22
• RSA 674:13
• RSA 674:15
• RSA 674:29
• RSA 674:30
• RSA 674:32-c
• RSA 674:41
• RSA 674:60
• RSA 674:63
• RSA 674:66
• RSA 675:2
• RSA 675:3
• RSA 675:4
• RSA 675:7
• RSA 675:8
• RSA 675:9
• RSA 676:4-b
• RSA 676:5
• RSA 676:14
• RSA 676:15
• RSA 676:17
• RSA 676:17-a
• RSA 676:17-b
• RSA 673:1
• RSA 674:34
• RSA 674:52-a
• RSA 676:11
• RSA 676:13
• RSA 155-A:5-a
• RSA 155-A:8

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 9
• HJ 1, page 51
• SC 7
• SC 9
• SJ 6
• HJ 11, page 83
• SJ 12
• HJ 13, page 151
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 12, 52 and 56
• SJ 15
• This page’s data as JSON