{"id": "HB707", "year": 2026, "term": "2025-2026", "title": "(Second New Title) establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.", "narrative": "It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Environment and Agriculture committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 4, 2025, with 232 people signed in online: 228 in support and 4 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on February 11, 2025, February 18, 2025, February 19, 2025, March 4, 2025 and March 11, 2025. The committee met in executive session on March 18, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee held a work session on March 18, 2025. The committee voted 14\u20131 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-1041h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-1041h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 26, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 26, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 15, 2025. The committee voted 4\u20131 to recommend that the Senate send it back to committee. On May 8, 2025 the Senate voted to send it back to committee on a voice vote. The committee voted unanimously, 5\u20130, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3050s). The committee's amendment (2025-3050s) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2026-0046s), offered by Sen. David Rochefort, was rejected on a roll call 12\u201312 on January 7, 2026. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee. The committee voted 7\u20131 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1932s). The committee's amendment (2026-1932s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 21, 2026 the House adopted \u201cHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1932s and 2026-3050s\u201d on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Judy Aron. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 \u2014 the final check of the text before it goes to the governor \u2014 and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2156e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 10, 2026, making it Chapter 288 of the session laws.", "stages": [{"label": "House Committee (Environment and Agriculture)", "hand": "H:committee", "text": "It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Environment and Agriculture committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 4, 2025, with 232 people signed in online: 228 in support and 4 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on February 11, 2025, February 18, 2025, February 19, 2025, March 4, 2025 and March 11, 2025. The committee met in executive session on March 18, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee held a work session on March 18, 2025. The committee voted 14\u20131 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-1041h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar.", "notes": ["A committee decides whether its report goes on the consent calendar, and can send it there even when its members divided on the recommendation itself. The chamber adopts all the reports on its consent calendar in one vote, without floor debate, unless a bill is taken off it first."]}, {"label": "On the House Floor", "hand": "H:floor", "text": "The committee's amendment (2025-1041h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 26, 2025, changing the text of the bill. On March 26, 2025 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote.", "notes": []}, {"label": "Senate Committee (Energy and Natural Resources)", "hand": "S:committee", "text": "It crossed to the Senate on March 27, 2025 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 15, 2025. The committee voted 4\u20131 to recommend that the Senate send it back to committee.", "notes": []}, {"label": "On the Senate Floor", "hand": "S:floor", "text": "On May 8, 2025 the Senate voted to send it back to committee on a voice vote.", "notes": []}, {"label": "Senate Committee (Energy and Natural Resources)", "hand": "S:committee", "text": "The committee voted unanimously, 5\u20130, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3050s).", "notes": []}, {"label": "On the Senate Floor", "hand": "S:floor", "text": "The committee's amendment (2025-3050s) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2026-0046s), offered by Sen. David Rochefort, was rejected on a roll call 12\u201312 on January 7, 2026. On January 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote, then referred it on to the Senate Finance committee.", "notes": []}, {"label": "Senate Committee (Finance)", "hand": "S:committee", "text": "The committee voted 7\u20131 to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1932s).", "notes": []}, {"label": "On the Senate Floor", "hand": "S:floor", "text": "The committee's amendment (2026-1932s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading.", "notes": []}, {"label": "On the House Floor", "hand": "H:floor", "text": "On May 21, 2026 the House adopted \u201cHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1932s and 2026-3050s\u201d on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Judy Aron.", "notes": []}, {"label": "With the Governor", "hand": "G:governor", "text": "The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 \u2014 the final check of the text before it goes to the governor \u2014 and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2156e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor signed it on July 10, 2026, making it Chapter 288 of the session laws.", "notes": []}], "story_people": [{"text": "Sen. David Rochefort", "label": "Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)", "slug": "david-rochefort-sd-1"}, {"text": "Rep. Judy Aron", "label": "Rep. Judy Aron (R - Sull 4)", "slug": "judy-aron-sull-4"}], "notes": [], "vote_note": "", "events": [{"date": "2025-01-09", "text": "Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 3, page 24", "plain": "Introduced and referred to Environment and Agriculture"}, {"date": "2025-02-04", "text": "Public Hearing: 02/04/2025 02:00 pm LOB 301-303", "routine": false, "testimony": {"date": "2025-02-04", "total": 232, "support": 228, "oppose": 4, "neutral": 0, "dated": true}}, {"date": "2025-02-11", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-02-18", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 02/18/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-02-19", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 02/19/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-04", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-11", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 03/11/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-11", "text": "Subcommittee Work Session: 03/11/2025 09:00 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-18", "text": "Executive Session: 03/18/2025 12:00 pm LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-18", "text": "Full Committee Work Session: 03/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303", "routine": false}, {"date": "2025-03-18", "text": "Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1041h (NT) 03/18/2025 (Vote 14-1; CC)", "routine": false, "cite": "HC 17, page 17", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2025%5CNo17%20March%2021%202025.pdf", "plain": "Committee report: pass the bill with changes (amendment 2025-1041h), 14\u20131, for the consent calendar"}, {"date": "2025-03-26", "text": "Amendment # 2025-1041h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 10, page 27", "plain": "Amendment 2025-1041h adopted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2025-03-26", "text": "Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1041h: MA VV 03/26/2025", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 10, page 27", "plain": "Bill passed with changes, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2025-03-27", "text": "Introduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 10", "plain": "Introduced and referred to Energy and Natural Resources"}, {"date": "2025-04-15", "text": "Hearing: 04/15/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:15 am", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 17", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2025%5CNo%2017%20April%2010%202025.pdf", "plain": "Public hearing, 9:15 a.m., Room 103, State House"}, {"date": "2025-05-08", "text": "Committee Report: Rereferred to Committee, 05/08/2025, Vote 4-1, CC", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 20", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2025%5CNo%2020%20May%201%202025.pdf", "plain": "Committee report: send the bill back to committee, 4\u20131, for the consent calendar"}, {"date": "2025-05-08", "text": "Rereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 05/08/2025", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 12", "plain": "Sent back to committee, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "text": "Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-3050s, 01/07/2026, Vote 5-0", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 46", "plain": "Committee report: pass the bill with changes (amendment 2025-3050s), 5\u20130"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "text": "Committee Amendment # 2025-3050s, AA, VV; 01/07/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 1", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Committee amendment 2025-3050s adopted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "text": "Sen. Rochefort Floor Amendment # 2026-0046s, RC 12Y-12N, AF; 01/07/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 1", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Floor amendment 2026-0046s (Sen. Rochefort) failed, 12\u201312 on a roll call"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "text": "Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-3050s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 01/07/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 1", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Bill passed with changes, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "text": "Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1932s, 05/14/2026, Vote 7-1; SC 18A", "routine": false, "cite": "SC 18A", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2018A%20May%207%202026.pdf", "plain": "Committee report: pass the bill with changes (amendment 2026-1932s), 7\u20131"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "text": "Committee Amendment # 2026-1932s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 12", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2012%20May%2014%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Committee amendment 2026-1932s adopted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "text": "Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1932s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 12", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2012%20May%2014%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Bill passed with changes, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-21", "text": "House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1932s and 2026-3050s (Rep. J. Aron): MA VV 05/21/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 14, page 10", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2014%20May%2021%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Changes accepted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2156e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026)", "routine": true, "cite": "SJ 14", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2014%20June%204%2C%202026.PDF", "plain": "Enrolled bill amendment 2026-2156e adopted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2156e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026", "routine": true, "cite": "HJ 15, page 46", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2015%20June%204%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Enrolled bill amendment 2026-2156e adopted, on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026)", "routine": false, "cite": "SJ 15", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2015.pdf", "plain": "Enrolled: the final text checked before it goes to the Governor"}, {"date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026", "routine": false, "cite": "HJ 15, page 56", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2015%20June%204%2C%202026.pdf", "plain": "Enrolled: the final text checked before it goes to the Governor"}, {"date": "2026-07-10", "text": "Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 288; eff. 9/8/2026", "routine": false}], "next_step": "Signed into law", "status_source": "General Court docket", "chapter": "288", "journey": {"steps": [{"date": "2025-03-26", "body": "H", "act": "passed", "mark": "p", "text": "Passed with an amendment on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2025-05-08", "body": "S", "act": "recommitted", "mark": "h", "text": "Sent back to committee on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "body": "S", "act": "referred", "mark": "h", "text": "Approved with an amendment and sent to Finance on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-14", "body": "S", "act": "passed", "mark": "p", "text": "Passed with an amendment on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-05-21", "body": "H", "act": "concurred", "mark": "p", "text": "Agreed to the Senate's amendment on a voice vote"}, {"date": "2026-07-10", "body": "G", "act": "signed", "mark": "p", "text": "Signed"}, {"date": "", "body": "L", "act": "law", "text": "Chapter 288, in effect Sep 8, 2026", "mark": "p"}], "rail": [{"stop": "Introduced", "mark": "p", "date": "2025-01-09", "say": "Introduced"}, {"stop": "House", "mark": "p", "date": "2025-03-26", "say": "Passed with an amendment on a voice vote"}, {"stop": "Senate", "mark": "p", "date": "2026-05-14", "say": "Passed with an amendment on a voice vote"}, {"stop": "Governor", "mark": "p", "date": "2026-07-10", "say": "Signed"}, {"stop": "Law", "mark": "p", "date": "2026-09-08", "say": "Chapter 288, in effect Sep 8, 2026"}]}, "text_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?id=586&txtFormat=html&sy=2026", "facts": {"lsr": "579", "body": "H", "local": "N", "gen_status": "SIGNED BY GOVERNOR", "house_status": "CONCURRED", "senate_status": "PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT", "date_introduced": "1/9/2025", "floor_date": "5/21/2026", "committee_code": "H06"}, "sponsors": [{"member_id": "10726", "name": "Potenza, Kelley", "party": "R", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Kelley Potenza (R - Straf 19)", "sequence": 1, "flag": "1", "prime": true, "county": "Straf", "district": "19", "display_plain": "Rep. Kelley Potenza", "display": "Rep. Kelley Potenza (R)", "display_full": "Rep. Kelley Potenza (R - Straf 19)", "district_label": "Straf 19", "sort": "potenza, kelley", "slug": "kelley-potenza-straf-19"}, {"member_id": "10347", "name": "Boyd, Bill", "party": "R", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Bill Boyd (R - Hills 12)", "sequence": 2, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Hills", "district": "12", "display_plain": "Rep. Bill Boyd", "display": "Rep. Bill Boyd (R)", "display_full": "Rep. Bill Boyd (R - Hills 12)", "district_label": "Hills 12", "sort": "boyd, bill", "slug": "bill-boyd-hills-12"}, {"member_id": "10748", "name": "Germana, Nicholas", "party": "D", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Nicholas Germana (D - Ches 15)", "sequence": 3, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Ches", "district": "15", "display_plain": "Rep. Nicholas Germana", "display": "Rep. Nicholas Germana (D)", "display_full": "Rep. Nicholas Germana (D - Ches 15)", "district_label": "Ches 15", "sort": "germana, nicholas", "slug": "nicholas-germana-ches-15"}, {"member_id": "10855", "name": "Haskins, Linda", "party": "D", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Linda Haskins (D - Rock 11)", "sequence": 4, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Rockingham", "district": "11", "display_plain": "Rep. Linda Haskins", "display": "Rep. Linda Haskins (D)", "display_full": "Rep. Linda Haskins (D - Rock 11)", "district_label": "Rock 11", "sort": "haskins, linda", "slug": "linda-haskins-rock-11"}, {"member_id": "10610", "name": "King, Seth", "party": "R", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Seth King (R - Coos 4)", "sequence": 5, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Coos", "district": "04", "display_plain": "Rep. Seth King", "display": "Rep. Seth King (R)", "display_full": "Rep. Seth King (R - Coos 4)", "district_label": "Coos 4", "sort": "king, seth", "slug": "seth-king-coos-4"}, {"member_id": "9429", "name": "Aron, Judy", "party": "R", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Judy Aron (R - Sull 4)", "sequence": 9, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Sull", "district": "04", "display_plain": "Rep. Judy Aron", "display": "Rep. Judy Aron (R)", "display_full": "Rep. Judy Aron (R - Sull 4)", "district_label": "Sull 4", "sort": "aron, judy", "slug": "judy-aron-sull-4"}, {"member_id": "10626", "name": "Noble, Kristin", "party": "R", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Kristin Noble (R - Hills 2)", "sequence": 10, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Hills", "district": "02", "display_plain": "Rep. Kristin Noble", "display": "Rep. Kristin Noble (R)", "display_full": "Rep. Kristin Noble (R - Hills 2)", "district_label": "Hills 2", "sort": "noble, kristin", "slug": "kristin-noble-hills-2"}, {"member_id": "9044", "name": "Burroughs, Anita", "party": "D", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Anita Burroughs (D - Carr 2)", "sequence": 11, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Carr", "district": "02", "display_plain": "Rep. Anita Burroughs", "display": "Rep. Anita Burroughs (D)", "display_full": "Rep. Anita Burroughs (D - Carr 2)", "district_label": "Carr 2", "sort": "burroughs, anita", "slug": "anita-burroughs-carr-2"}, {"member_id": "11171", "name": "Gruber, James", "party": "D", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. James Gruber (D - Ches 16)", "sequence": 12, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Ches", "district": "16", "display_plain": "Rep. James Gruber", "display": "Rep. James Gruber (D)", "display_full": "Rep. James Gruber (D - Ches 16)", "district_label": "Ches 16", "sort": "gruber, james", "slug": "james-gruber-ches-16"}, {"member_id": "496", "name": "Schmidt, Peter", "party": "D", "chamber": "H", "label": "Rep. Peter Schmidt (D - Straf 14)", "sequence": 13, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Straf", "district": "14", "display_plain": "Rep. Peter Schmidt", "display": "Rep. Peter Schmidt (D)", "display_full": "Rep. Peter Schmidt (D - Straf 14)", "district_label": "Straf 14", "sort": "schmidt, peter", "slug": "peter-schmidt-straf-14"}, {"member_id": "10599", "name": "Fenton, Donovan", "party": "D", "chamber": "S", "label": "Sen. Donovan Fenton (D - SD10)", "sequence": 15, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Ches", "district": "08", "display_plain": "Sen. Donovan Fenton", "display": "Sen. Donovan Fenton (D)", "display_full": "Sen. Donovan Fenton (D - SD10)", "district_label": "SD10", "sort": "fenton, donovan", "slug": "donovan-fenton-sd-10"}, {"member_id": "9845", "name": "Ricciardi, Denise", "party": "R", "chamber": "S", "label": "Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R - SD9)", "sequence": 16, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Ches", "district": "09", "display_plain": "Sen. Denise Ricciardi", "display": "Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R)", "display_full": "Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R - SD9)", "district_label": "SD9", "sort": "ricciardi, denise", "slug": "denise-ricciardi-sd-9"}, {"member_id": "11458", "name": "Rochefort, David", "party": "R", "chamber": "S", "label": "Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)", "sequence": 17, "flag": "0", "prime": false, "county": "Graf", "district": "01", "display_plain": "Sen. David Rochefort", "display": "Sen. David Rochefort (R)", "display_full": "Sen. David Rochefort (R - SD1)", "district_label": "SD1", "sort": "rochefort, david", "slug": "david-rochefort-sd-1"}], "rollcalls": [{"date": "2025-03-26", "body": "H", "question": "Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1041h", "mover": "", "yeas": null, "nays": null, "passed": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "vote_kind_label": "voice vote", "threshold_note": null, "tally": {}, "members": [], "amendment": null, "mk": "otpa", "mf": {}}, {"date": "2025-05-08", "body": "S", "question": "Rereferred to Committee", "mover": "", "yeas": null, "nays": null, "passed": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "vote_kind_label": "voice vote", "threshold_note": null, "tally": {}, "members": [], "amendment": null, "mk": "rerefer", "mf": {}, "mrec": "Rereferred to Committee"}, {"date": "2026-01-07", "body": "S", "question": "Adopt Floor Amendment", "yeas": 12, "nays": 12, "passed": false, "threshold_note": null, "amendment": "2026-0046s", "threshold_needed": null, "threshold_rule": null, "tally": {"R": {"Nay": 12, "Yea": 4}, "D": {"Yea": 8}}, "members": [{"n": "Sen. Sharon Carson (R)", "s": "carson, sharon", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. David Watters (D)", "s": "watters, david", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. Kevin Avard (R)", "s": "avard, kevin", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. Regina Birdsell (R)", "s": "birdsell, regina", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D)", "s": "rosenwald, cindy", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. James Gray (R)", "s": "gray, james", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. Ruth Ward (R)", "s": "ward, ruth", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. Bill Gannon (R)", "s": "gannon, bill", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. Daniel Innis (R)", "s": "innis, daniel", "p": "R", "v": "Nay"}, {"n": "Sen. Suzanne Prentiss (D)", "s": "prentiss, suzanne", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. Denise Ricciardi (R)", "s": "ricciardi, denise", "p": "R", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D)", "s": "perkins kwoka, rebecca", "p": "D", "v": "Yea"}, {"n": "Sen. 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and Natural Resources Committee", "heard": "2025-04-15", "opened": "10:11 a.m.", "closed": "10:43 a.m.", "present": "Senators Avard, Pearl, McConkey, Watters and Rosenwald", "absent": "None", "positions": [["Who supports the bill", "Representative Kelly Potenza (Strafford County District 19), Representative Linda Haskins (Rockingham County District 11), Representative James Gruber (Cheshire County District 16), Representative Judy Aron (Sullivan County District 4), Representative Timothy Horrigan (Strafford County District 10), (Wayne Morrison (NCABC), Muriel Robinette (NCABC), Matt Leahy (NH Forest Society), Sarah Doucette, Nancy Morrison, John Tuthill"], ["Who opposes the bill", "Eric Steinhauser (Sanborn Head & Associates), Shaun Mulholland (City of Lebanon),"], ["Who is neutral on the bill", "Representative Nicholas Germana (Cheshire County District 15), (Henry Veilleux (Waste Management)"]], "completed": "2025-04-17", "sections": [{"label": "Summary of testimony presented in support", "side": "support", "speakers": [{"who": "Representative Kelly Potenza", "points": ["Representative Potenza introduced HB 707, which she explained is intended to reform outdated landfill siting rules and bring them into alignment with scientific standards and public health protections. She emphasized that the bill reflects over a year of bipartisan work and input from stakeholders and experts.", "She explained HB 707 addresses seven to eight sections of New Hampshire\u2019s Chapter 800 landfill siting rules, which span 55 pages. The bill would replace the current arbitrary 500-foot setback with a science-based standard, including a five-year time-of-travel requirement for groundwater contamination, which reflects how fast pollutants can move through local soils and bedrock.", "She noted the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JCLAR) objected to the Department of Environmental Services (DES) rules in November 2024, citing they were contrary to legislative intent and public interest, and overly prioritized administrative convenience over public safety.", "Representative Potenza explained HB 707 modernizes siting rules, directs the DES to develop rules that explicitly protect human health and the environment, and strengthens the statute by changing the authority of DES from \u201cmay\u201d to \u201cshall\u201d deny permits under certain conditions.", "She explained HB 707 includes several major policy reforms, such as establishing the five-year pollutant travel distance standard, requiring hydrogeological investigations, mandating a 24/7 on-site guard at landfills, and sets soil conductivity at 1x10?4 cm/sec for the first 20 feet.", "Additionally, she explained the bill would prohibit the use of imported soil to artificially meet setback requirements, increase the minimum setback from 500 feet to 1,500 feet from water bodies or wells, account for 100-year storm events with a 50% safety margin, and changes statutory language to ensure environmental protection is a required consideration in DES rulemaking.", "She emphasized that New Hampshire currently has among the weakest landfill siting rules in the country and that HB 707 corrects this by providing clear, enforceable standards.", "Representative Potenza noted that while her original draft had even stronger protections, such as a 3,000-foot setback, she revised the bill to 1,500 feet and a conductivity standard of 1x10?4 cm/sec to gain broader support.", "She stated New Hampshire does not currently have a landfill capacity crisis and only needs one new landfill over the next 100 years, requiring about 500 acres, 0.008% of New Hampshire\u2019s land.", {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked whether Representative Potenza agreed that the public health protection purpose of RSA 149-M:1 is still relevant.", "sub": ["Representative Potenza affirmed that public health remains a paramount concern."]}, {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked if, when an agency adopts rules inconsistent with legislative intent, the proper remedy is to change statute to restore legislative control over policy.", "sub": ["Representative Potenza agreed, stating HB 707 is precisely the type of statutory correction and reflected guidance from JCLAR."]}, {"t": "Senator Rosenwald referenced Appendix A of the current rules and asked for confirmation that they allow up to three feet of leachate travel per day.", "sub": ["Representative Potenza confirmed the current rule permits a conductivity of 1x10?\u00b3cm/sec, equivalent to three feet of pollutant movement per day, far less protective than other states such as Illinois and Texas which use 1x10?7 or 1x10?6."]}], "also": ["Prime Sponsor, Strafford County District 19"], "member": {"label": "Representative Kelly Potenza", "party_code": "R", "slug": "kelley-potenza-straf-19"}}, {"who": "Wayne Morrison", "points": ["Mr. Morrison testified in support of HB 707, stating that while the DES rules have been updated following a comprehensive review, his organization disagrees with the policy direction those rules ultimately took. He emphasized that NCABC provided feedback throughout the rulemaking process, but the final outcome did not reflect their recommendations.", "He referenced prior bipartisan support for HB 1454, a bill that would have implemented site-specific setbacks based on time of contaminant travel.", "Mr. Morrison stated that although HB 1454 was vetoed, the concept remains sound and is carried forward in HB 707.", "Mr. Morrison acknowledged the complexity of the science involved, such as interpreting 10?\u00b3 conductivity values, but stated that from a broader perspective, it is common sense to base landfill setbacks on site-specific geology, which can vary dramatically across New Hampshire.", "He criticized current rule language that requires applicants to avoid pollution as being too vague, lacking enforceable strength. He argued that HB 707 provides a clearer and more measurable standard through the use of site-specific time-of-travel calculations and a strengthened setback.", {"t": "Senator Rosenwald pointed to Page 2, Lines 6 and 7, which state there is a choice between 1,500 feet and a five-year distance of travel estimate. She asked for clarification if there is a strict 1,500-foot setback requirement.", "sub": ["Mr. Morrison confirmed that HB 707 does not mandate a strict 1,500-foot setback. Rather, it allows for site-specific calculation based on soil testing, with the 1,500 feet serving as a minimum floor to ensure protection even in faster-draining soils."]}], "also": ["North Country Alliance for Balance Change (NCABC)"]}, {"who": "Representative Linda Haskins", "points": ["Representative Haskins described HB 707 as a vital part of the Governor\u2019s strategic plan to modernize New Hampshire\u2019s solid waste management system.", "She stated she was described at how much time the Environment and Agriculture Committee has had to dedicate to landfill issues, but said that was necessary due to serious concerns about landfill siting raised during an ongoing application process.", "She emphasized that the House has been leading efforts over the past six years to improve landfill regulations and that no one on the committee seeks to be adversarial toward DES. However, she and others believe the current DES rules are insufficiently protective, noting that the differences between the November and December rule versions were not meaningful enough to justify approval after an initial denial.", "Representative Haskins stated that JLCAR was clear in telling the legislature it must set policy, not JLCAR or DES, and that HB 707 reflect the legislature fulfilling that responsibility.", "She explained that site-specific, science-based setbacks are critical to preventing groundwater contamination. The bill\u2019s five-year contaminant travel time requirement gives time to detect and respond to pollution before it causes lasting harm.", "She stressed that expert testimony has confirmed all landfills eventually leak, making it essential to have both on-site 24/7 personnel and technological monitoring in place. She stated that while either may fail on its own, using both offers better protection.", "Representative Haskins concluded by warning that a 500-foot setback, as currently permitted, could provide either decades or only months of protection depending on the site\u2019s geology."], "also": ["Rockingham County District 11"], "member": {"label": "Representative Linda Haskins", "party_code": "D", "slug": "linda-haskins-rock-11"}}, {"who": "Representative James Gruber", "points": ["Representative Gruber testified in support of HB 707, citing his decades of experience in solid waste management.", "He emphasized the bill is focused on establishing site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills to better protect groundwater, drinking water, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.", "He noted that the bill\u2019s provisions, specifically the five-year contaminant travel time and hydraulic conductivity threshold of 1x10?4 cm/sec, are consistent with common standards used in neighboring states and many countries. He stated these thresholds help determine how long it would take for leachate from a landfill to reach surface or groundwater and based on soil permeability.", "Representative Gruber explained that the 1x10?4 cm/sec value is widely used in engineering, including for pond and contaminant systems, and typically reflects very fine silts and clay soils that slow the spread of contaminants. He stated the five-year travel time standard is both reasonable and scientifically sound.", "He highlighted that the bill provides flexibility, allowing for either a five-year travel time calculation or a minimum 1,500-foot setback, depending on site conditions. The inclusion of a 1,500-foot buffer also helps mitigate risks from increased storm intensity, which may carry surface runoff containing contaminants.", "Representative Gruber acknowledged that he was uncertain how the bill\u2019s requirement for landfills to withstand 100-year storms with a 50% safety margin translates mathematically but supports including a buffer for extreme weather events.", "While HB 707 focuses on new landfills, he acknowledged concerns raised by others about how the bill could impact the expansion of existing landfills and recommended that issue be addressed through amendments.", "Representative Gruber concluded by emphasizing that adopting standards in line with other states is crucial to protect public health and prevent New Hampshire from becoming a dumping ground for out-of-state waste simply because it has weaker regulations or lower disposal costs."], "also": ["Cheshire County District 16"], "member": {"label": "Representative James Gruber", "party_code": "D", "slug": "james-gruber-ches-16"}}, {"who": "Sarah Doucette", "points": ["Ms. Doucette highlighted the years of public engagement and bipartisan support for HB 707.", "She emphasized that, as a resident of a small state, all Senate decisions impact every citizen, and she asked to be heard as a constituent with a meaningful stake in the outcome.", "She noted that the push for stronger landfill siting regulations began in 2019, and HB 707 reflects the refinement of several past proposals, incorporating input from legislators, state agencies, and the public.", "She described the bill as the culmination of years of work to protect New Hampshire\u2019s water, environment, and public health.", "Ms. Doucette criticized narratives she believes are misleading, stating that experts in economics, law, and waste management have rebutted claims that the bill would drastically raise disposal costs, reduce industry leaders, and the Department of Justice affirming that limiting-out-of-state trash and updating regulations are both feasible and reasonable.", "Ms. Doucette explained that JLCAR\u2019s approval of DES\u2019s landfill rules in December 2024 was not endorsement of their quality. The committee explicitly stated that the legislature must lead in strengthening environmental protections."], "also": ["Resident of Whitefield"]}, {"who": "Muriel Robinette", "points": ["Ms. Robinette explained that she is a hydrogeologist with over 40 years of experience.", "She clarified that while New Hampshire\u2019s newly updated solid waste rules are detailed and strong in terms of engineering and design, the bill focuses on where landfills should be built to best protect water resources.", "She explained that every landfill she has worked on in 11 states has had some level of groundwater contamination, making site selection critical. She stressed that hydraulic conductivity is key.", "She explained slower-moving groundwater allows more time to detect and stop contamination before it reaches surface waters, unlike fast soils such as sand, where pollutants could travel 3-5 feet per day, making the existing 500-foot setback insufficient.", "Ms. Robinette noted that HB 707 proposed standards, including the 1x10?4 cm/sec threshold and the five-year travel time requirement, are not overly restrictive. She stated about 80% of New Hampshire\u2019s land area is covered in glacial till, which could meet this standard, and other states, such as Maine, already require even stricter clay-based standards.", {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked if landfill leakage is influenced by outside factors.", "sub": ["Ms. Robinette stated there are many factors that contribute to landfill leakage, including site handling practices, infrastructure complexity, and the kind of waste.", "She stated his reinforce the need to prioritize site location and soil characteristics in landfill planning."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked whether the bill applies to existing landfills and their expansions.", "sub": ["Ms. Robinette stated her understanding was the HB 707 is intended to apply only to new landfills, not to current operations or expansions."]}], "also": ["North Country Alliance for Balanced Change (NCABC)"]}, {"who": "Nancy Morrison", "points": ["Ms. Morrison encouraged the committee to \u201cride the wave\u201d of growing momentum for waste management reform in New Hampshire.", "She emphasized that New Hampshire does not have a landfill capacity issue in the near term, and warned that the long-term consequences of siting a new landfill are serious and far-reaching. When a new landfill is eventually needed, location will be critical to protecting public health and the environment.", "Ms. Morrison explained that HB 707 introduces science-based, site-specific setback criteria, grounded in soil testing to determine how long contaminants would take to reach water sources. This approach ensures landfills are sited far enough from water bodies based on actual soil composition.", "She cautioned that even the best landfill designs and multi-layer liners cannot fully prevent contamination, referencing past incidents of liner punctures and leachate spills in New Hampshire. She argued that understanding the time-of-travel for contaminants is more crucial than relying solely on engineering solutions.", "Ms. Morrison described HB 707 as thoroughly studied and science-based."]}]}, {"label": "Summary of testimony presented in opposition", "side": "oppose", "speakers": [{"who": "Shaun Mulholland", "points": ["Mr. Mulholland stated the city of Lebanon currently operates a municipal landfill with approximately five years of capacity remaining. He expressed concerns about how HB 707 could affect the city\u2019s plans to expand into Phase 3 of the cities five-year plan, which includes removing waste from the leaking, unlined Phase 1 landfill and transferring it to the lined Phase 2 landfill to reduce environmental harm.", "He highlighted issues that uniquely affect municipal operations, including the requirement in Section 19 for 24/7 on-site coverage. He explained that, unlike large private companies, Lebanon lacks the budget and labor capacity to hire around-the-clock landfill staff, especially given current hiring challenges.", "He argued that remote monitoring technologies, such as sensors and video surveillance, would be more practical and effective for small municipalities. He expressed skepticism about the usefulness of requiring a person to be physically present at the landfill during overnight hours, when staffing would be difficult and vigilance unlikely.", "Mr. Mulholland also raised concerns about the bill\u2019s airport proximity provisions, noting that many landfills in New Hampshire are located near airports, including Lebanon\u2019s. He stated that while federal law includes waivers and exemptions for such cases, HB 707 does not clarify how those would apply, potentially leading to conflicts between state and federal regulations."], "also": ["City Manager for the City of Lebanon"]}, {"who": "Eric Steinhauser", "points": ["Mr. Steinhauser explained that he is a licensed and professional engineer with 40 years of experience in landfills and site remediation. He clarified that his testimony was his own and not on behalf of any clients, councils, or agencies, despite serving on both the Waste Management and the Solid Waste Working Group.", "He expressed concern that codifying siting and design standards into statute rather than rules would reduce flexibility. He stated that under current DES rulemaking, waivers are no longer an option, which could create unintended roadblocks for responsible landfill development and management.", "He stated that HB 707 requires a minimum setback of 1,500 feet or a five-year contaminant travel time, whichever is greater, and explained that calculating travel time involves many site-specific factors, such as groundwater gradients and hydrogeology. A one-size-fits-all minimum may not accurately reflect the risk at any given site.", "Mr. Steinhauser argued that many of HB 707\u2019s provisions appear to be solutions in search of a problem. As an example, he pointed out that there is no documented groundwater contamination from lined landfills built under New Hampshire\u2019s current standards. Most contamination issues stem from older, unlined landfills, such as Lebanon\u2019s Phase 1, which is being excavated and moved into a safer, lined cell.", "He opposed the bill\u2019s requirement for 24/7 on-site staffing, noting that leaks typically wouldn\u2019t be detected by someone monitoring the site overnight and that existing systems already operate with on-site staff during active hours and remote monitoring when closed.", "Mr. Steinhauser also took issue with the proposed ban on imported fill material, arguing it could contradict existing federal and state liner design standards. Under current rules, engineered fill is used in landfill construction to meet protective permeability thresholds. Mr. Steinhauser noted that federal rules require a geomembrane over a 10?7 cm/sec soil layer, and New Hampshire\u2019s design goes beyond that with dual liners, leak detection, and thicker soil layers, often using engineered fill to achieve required standards.", {"t": "Senator McConkey asked whether banning imported fill was a reasonable standard, given that technology allows materials to be engineered and compacted safely, especially in regions where natural soil conditions are not ideal.", "sub": ["Mr. Steinhauser agreed, stating that imported fill can be carefully controlled and tested, and is already used effectively in liner construction. He explained that prohibiting its use could create inconsistencies and interfere with established engineering practices and existing regulatory requirements."]}], "also": ["Sanborn Head & Associates"]}]}, {"label": "Neutral Information Presented", "side": "neutral", "speakers": [{"who": "Mike Wimsatt", "points": ["Mr. Wimsatt stated that soil hydraulic conductivity cannot be directly equated to a specific contaminant travel distance, such as three feet per day, without factoring variables such as gradient and other site-specific conditions. He cautioned against oversimplifying the science behind soil permeability.", {"t": "Senator Avard asked if Mr. Wimsatt agreed that New Hampshire has some of the weakest landfill siting rules in the country.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt disagreed with the claim that New Hampshire has the weakest landfill rules compared to other states. He referenced a JCLAR meeting in December 2024 where DES submitted a detailed response to objections and listed nearly 30 areas where the landfill rules had been strengthened."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked if under current rules, a landfill could be sited anywhere in the state.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt stated that assumption is incorrect. He explained that in addition to the basic 500-foot setback from surface water, DES requires landfills to be designed so any potential release can be detected, investigated, and remediated before reaching groundwater standards at the property boundary or surface water. These evaluations are based on site-specific date and require licensed professionals for both application preparation and agency review."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked if the existing 500-foot setback was an increase from a previous 200-foot standard.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt confirmed this, explaining that the 500-foot minimum is just one layer of protection, with further in-depth analysis required."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked whether the 1,500-foot setback proposed in HB 707 is based on science or arbitrary judgement.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt stated DES did not prepare or propose the 1,500-foot figure and therefore could not speak to its scientific basis."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked about a provision in HB 707 that changes DES\u2019s authority from \u201cmay deny\u201d to \u201cshall deny\u201d permits based on criminal history.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt clarified that this would require DES to deny a permit if an applicant or officer was convicted of a felony within five years, removing agency discretion. He noted that DES has required background checks for hazardous and solid waste facilities for decades to help screen applicants for criminal history."]}, {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked if different kinds of soils allow contaminants to flow through them at different rates.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt confirmed that different soil types allow contaminants to move at different rates and that DES already considers contaminant travel through soil in its current review process."]}, {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked if it is unreasonable to include time-of-travel in siting considerations.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt replied that it is not unreasonable, but the DES rules already address this using a different method than what is proposed in HB 707."]}, {"t": "Senator Avard asked whether mattresses prohibited from landfill disposal in other states can be accepted in New Hampshire.", "sub": ["Mr. Wimsatt stated that New Hampshire law prohibits receiving such waste only if it is banned in the originating state. The legality depends on the specific waste type and the state\u2019s regulations."]}], "also": ["New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Directory of the Waste Management Division"]}, {"who": "Henry Veilleux", "points": ["Mr. Veilleux testified on behalf of Waste Management, focusing on how HB 707 could impact Turnkey Landfill. He noted that under Section 16 of the bill, the five-year time-of-travel provision does not apply to expansions of existing landfills, meaning Turnkey would be exempt from that specific requirement. However, other sections of the bill, specifically Sections 18-21, do not include this exemption, and thus would apply to Turnkey.", "He highlighted concerns with Section 20m which requires 20 feet of undisturbed soil between the landfill liner and bedrock. Turnkey is currently permitted for only six feet in some areas. He stated if the 20-foot standard must be met throughout the site, it would be problematic unless amended to allow for imported material to meet the depth.", "Mr. Veilleux also raised concerns with Section 22, which mandates stormwater infrastructure be designed for a 100-year storm with a 50% safety margin, effectively a 500-year storm event.", "He stated this would be extremely difficult or impossible to engineer under current site conditions and would exceed what is currently required by NH DES, which already uses updated regional climate data developed by the Northeast Regional Climate Center.", "He clarified that he had spoken with Representative Potenza, who confirmed it was not her intent to negatively affect Turnkey\u2019s operations, but if the bill is not amended it could create major issues for future expansions, especially when new permits are required for each cell.", {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked if Waste Management supports or has concerns with the five-year time-of-travel provision", "sub": ["Mr. Veilleux stated the provision does not apply to Turnkey, since it is an existing landfill."]}, {"t": "Senator Rosenwald asked whether the requirement for a 24/7 on-site employee would be a barrier to expansion.", "sub": ["Mr. Veilleux replied that although they believe their existing monitoring technology is more effective than round-the-clock staff, Waste Management would not oppose the requirement or abandon expansion efforts because of it."]}], "also": ["Waste Management"]}, {"who": "Representative Nicholas Germana", "points": ["Representative Germana focused on the scientific reasoning behind the bill\u2019s key provisions.", "He clarified remarks on comparing New Hampshire\u2019s landfill regulations to others in the country, stating the comparison referred specifically to hydraulic conductivity rates. He offered Alabama as an example, which uses a stricter standard of 1x10?7 cm/sec, while New Hampshire\u2019s current standard is 1x10?\u00b3, making it significantly less protective.", "He emphasized that how far a landfill is set back from a body of water should depend on how long it would take for contaminants to reach that water. He stated this is why the bill proposes a five-year contaminant travel time standard.", "Representative Germana disagreed with DES\u2019s claim that sit-specific setback standards are unworkable. He noted that many other states successfully use such standards, and JLCAR raised similar concerns, stating explicitly in its November 2024 objection and follow-up letter that the rules were not as protective as they should be.", "He referenced a 2011 DES map prepared by geologist Brendan Kernan, which showed that using the five-year travel time standard would exclude only about 14% of land in New Hampshire from landfill siting, countering claims that the standard is overly restrictive.", "Representative Germana also cited a January 2024 statement by the directory of the Casella landfill in Vermont, who said the site was ideal due to its natural clay foundation. The directory warned against siting landfills on sand or soft clay, reinforcing the bill\u2019s stance on importing soil over unsuitable land is not a substitute for proper site selection.", "He emphasized that New Hampshire\u2019s statutes and regulations should be grounded in this scientifically sound approach to protect public health and water resources."], "also": ["Cheshire County District 15"], "member": {"label": "Representative Nicholas Germana", "party_code": "D", "slug": "nicholas-germana-ches-15"}}]}]}]}, {"when": "2025-05-08", "time": null, "what": "consent calendar", "committee": "Senate", "venue": null, "video_id": "9Mv01Z_AsjU", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mv01Z_AsjU&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": null, "debate_end": null, "window_start": null, "motions": ["Rereferred to Committee"], "tallies": [], "state": "consent", "candidate": null}, {"when": "2026-01-07", "time": null, "what": "floor debate", "committee": "Senate", "venue": null, "video_id": "TCp4IwR9OIc", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCp4IwR9OIc&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": 12301.9, "debate_end": 13260.6, "window_start": null, "motions": ["Floor Amendment"], "tallies": ["12-12"], "state": "floor_stated", "candidate": null, "debate_start": 12301.9, "start_stated": true, "said_how": "number"}, {"when": "2026-05-14", "time": null, "what": "floor debate", "committee": "Senate", "venue": null, "video_id": "xkUhsgh3skk", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkUhsgh3skk&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": 21072.7, "debate_end": 21718.0, "window_start": null, "motions": ["Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1932s"], "tallies": [], "state": "floor_stated", "candidate": null, "debate_start": 21072.7, "start_stated": true, "said_how": "number"}, {"when": "2026-05-21", "time": null, "what": "floor debate", "committee": "House", "venue": null, "video_id": "6oCT6ls3uDk", "watch": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oCT6ls3uDk&t=0s", "predicted": null, "start": null, "debate_end": null, "window_start": null, "motions": ["House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1932s and 2026-3050s"], "tallies": [], "state": "floor_dated", "candidate": null}], "reports": [{"bill": "HB707", "title": "requiring the department of environmental services to establish a site-specific setback distance for proposed new landfills", "majority_recommendation": "OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT", "minority_recommendation": null, "reports": [{"side": "Committee", "author": "Rep. Kelley Potenza", "committee": "Environment and Agriculture", "vote_yeas": 14, "vote_nays": 1, "text": "As amended, this bill takes care of multiple policy decisions to protect the health and safety of New Hampshire citizens, drinking water sources, and our environment. This includes protecting drinking water wells, perennial rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, from contamination. This legislation modernizes our approach to landfill siting, ensuring that we put human health first and environmental protection back in the driver's seat. This legislation develops landfill siting criteria in line with all other states, provinces and countries--via site-specific surface and drinking water setbacks based on how fast pollution can move through the local soils and bedrock. This bill puts into statute a modern, local data criterion for landfill siting. JLCAR determined in November 2024 that the updated Department of Environmental Services (DES) rules were contrary to statute and against the public interest. JLCAR approved those rule updates in December 2024, saying that the legislature needed to set laws and policies, as that was not something JLCAR was authorized to do, as they could only approve or deny rules presented to them. This bill improves upon the rules set in November 2024 and adds the words to the governing statute of the DES Solid Waste Division. Instead of being given authority merely to \"write rules,\" the division is directed to write rules \"necessary to protect public health and the environment.\" This bill complements everything Governor Ayotte has put into the HB 2 budget with regard to environmental protection and landfill siting. Her newly created Site Evaluation Committee will better assess the benefits and harms of a landfill project when the siting rules are brought out of the mid-20th century and into alignment with the rest of the world's."}], "source": "House Calendar 17, 2025", "date": "2025-03-18", "dated": "signed", "cite": "HC 17", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2025%5CNo17%20March%2021%202025.pdf"}, {"bill": "HB707", "body": "S", "title": "", "source": "Senate committee report, released 2025-04-29", "date": "2025-05-08", "dated": "signed", "calendar": "Consent Calendar", "majority_recommendation": "RE-REFERRED TO COMMITTEE", "minority_recommendation": "", "reports": [{"side": "Committee", "author": "Senator Kevin Avard", "committee": "Energy and Natural Resources", "vote_yeas": 4, "vote_nays": 1, "amendment": "", "text": "HB 707 requires the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to update its rules for new landfill siting to better protect public health, drinking water, and the environment. The bill establishes strict, site-specific setback requirements ensuring that groundwater contaminated by a landfill cannot reach drinking water wells or surface waters within five years. It mandates 24/7 on-site staffing, detailed hydrogeological testing, and minimum soil permeability standards beneath landfill sites. It also elevates the storm design standard to a 100-year storm event with a 50% margin of safety and prohibits landfill permits near certain airports, incorporating federal Ford Act standards. The bill aims to ensure DES prioritizes environmental safety and public health in future solid waste regulations."}], "cite": "SC 20", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2025%5CNo%2020%20May%201%202025.pdf"}, {"bill": "HB707", "body": "S", "title": "", "source": "Senate committee report, released 2025-10-29", "date": "2026-01-07", "dated": "signed", "calendar": "Regular Calendar", "majority_recommendation": "OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT", "minority_recommendation": "", "reports": [{"side": "Committee", "author": "Senator Howard Pearl", "committee": "Energy and Natural Resources", "vote_yeas": 5, "vote_nays": 0, "amendment": "2025-3050s", "text": ""}], "cite": "SC 46", "cite_url": ""}, {"bill": "HB707", "body": "S", "title": "", "source": "Senate committee report, released 2026-05-12", "date": "2026-05-14", "dated": "signed", "calendar": "Regular Calendar", "majority_recommendation": "OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT", "minority_recommendation": "", "reports": [{"side": "Committee", "author": "Senator Howard Pearl", "committee": "Finance", "vote_yeas": 7, "vote_nays": 1, "amendment": "2026-1932s", "text": ""}], "cite": "SC 18A", "cite_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2018A%20May%207%202026.pdf"}], "docket_reports": [], "report_actions": [], "veto_message": null, "bill_note": null, "subject": "Environment - Administration", "subject_source": "general court", "house_committee": "Environment and Agriculture", "senate_committee": "Energy and Natural Resources", "lsr": "2026-0579", "docket_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0579&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=hb707&sortoption=billnumber", "documents": [{"label": "Bill text", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?id=586&txtFormat=html&sy=2026", "kind": "text"}, {"label": "Bill status page", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/Bill_status.aspx?lsr=0579&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=hb707&sortoption=billnumber", "kind": "status"}, {"label": "Docket", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0579&sy=2026&txtsessionyear=2026&txtbillnumber=hb707&sortoption=billnumber", "kind": "docket"}, {"label": "HC 17, page 17", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=calendars%5C2025%5CNo17%20March%2021%202025.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 17", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2025%5CNo%2017%20April%2010%202025.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 20", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2025%5CNo%2020%20May%201%202025.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 1", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2001%20January%207%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SC 18A", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=Calendars%5C2026%5CNo%2018A%20May%207%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 12", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2012%20May%2014%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "HJ 14, page 10", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2014%20May%2021%2C%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 14", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2014%20June%204%2C%202026.PDF", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "HJ 15, pages 46 and 56", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/house/calendars_journals/viewer.aspx?fileName=journals%5C2026%5CHJ%2015%20June%204%2C%202026.pdf", "kind": "record"}, {"label": "SJ 15", "url": "https://gc.nh.gov/senate/calendars_journals/Journals/2026/SJ%2015.pdf", "kind": "record"}], "amendments": [{"num": "2025-1041h", "kind": "Committee Amendment", "where": "committee", "date": "2025-03-26", "body": "H", "adopted": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "mover": "", "proposed_by": "the Committee on Environment and Agriculture", "text": "Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following: AN ACT requiring the department of environmental services to revise the rules for proposed new landfills. Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following: 1 Statement of Purpose. The general court finds that protecting the health and safety of New Hampshire citizens, drinking water sources, and our environment, including drinking water wells, perennial rivers, lakes, and coastal waters, from contamination is of utmost public interest. Therefore, based on legislative intent informed by public and expert testimony from New Hampshire citizens and key stakeholders, the department of environmental services' 800 rules for proposed new landfills are found to be insufficiently protective in certain sections. The following provisions provide the department with direction, policy changes, and purpose in rulemaking. 2 New Subparagraph; Waste Management Rules. Amend RSA 149-M:7 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraph: XV-a. Relative to the safe management of solid waste. Such rules shall promote the hierarchy established under RSA 149-M:3, and shall develop and enforce siting, design, operation, and closure requirements. 3 New Paragraphs; Groundwater Protection. Amend RSA 149-M:9 by inserting after paragraph XV the following new paragraphs: XVI. No permit shall be issued by any division of the department for the siting of a new landfill if any part of the actual solid waste disposal area is proposed to be located sufficiently close to any existing drinking water well, perennial river, lake, or coastal water of New Hampshire, as defined in RSA 483-B:4, XVI, such that groundwater on the landfill site would be able to reach the water body within 5 years of migrating off-site due to any leak, spill, or other failure. XVII.(a) The department shall establish a site-specific setback distance for any proposed new landfill from any drinking water wells, perennial river, lake, or coastal water of New Hampshire, as defined in RSA 483-B:4, XVI. The setback distance shall be sufficient to prevent any contaminated groundwater at any part of the landfill footprint or leachate storage or piping infrastructure from reaching any existing drinking water wells, perennial river, lake, or coastal water of New Hampshire within 5 years. The setback distance shall be calculated as follows: (1) The applicant shall hire a hydrogeologist who has never worked with or been contracted through a third party with any applicant's current or previous projects, at the applicant's expense, to estimate based upon adequate and representative on-site field testing of both the landfill footprint and leachate storage or piping infrastructure, the estimated velocity of groundwater in both surficial geological deposits and bedrock. The velocity shall be estimated by calculating the 95th percentile upper confidence limit of the mean measured rate, using the formula recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency at EPA 600-R-97/006. (2) The 5-year distance-of-travel estimate shall be calculated by multiplying the velocity, in units of feet per year, by 5. (3) The setback from any existing drinking water well, perennial river, lake, or coastal water of New Hampshire shall be the greater of the 5-year distance-of-travel estimate calculated in subparagraph (2) or 1,500 feet. (b) No permit shall be issued by any division of the department for the siting of a new landfill that fails to conform to the setback distance as calculated using the method set forth in subparagraph (a). (c) In this section, \"new landfill\" excludes any expansion or modification of any landfill facilities on any site where, as of January 1, 2025, a RCRA Subtitle D landfill exists that has received all permits necessary to operate at present and is currently operating under such permits at the time it files an application to expand. (d) In this section, \"site\" means a single parcel or adjacent parcels, owned in its entirety by a landfill operator or its affiliates as of January 1, 2025, including a site where one or more public utility easements traverse the site. XVIII. The department shall not issue a permit for a new landfill or landfill expansion unless the applicant conducts subsurface investigations in sufficient numbers and locations to properly describe the surficial stratigraphy and the bedrock beneath and adjacent to the proposed solid waste boundary, at least to the depth of any aquifers currently used to provide drinking water to residents. Pump tests shall be conducted at selected locations as needed to evaluate aquifer yield and connectivity of bedrock fractures using the department's database of the location and depth of private drinking water wells. XIX. All landfill facilities shall have at least one employee or contracted personnel at the site 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, beginning from the date the landfill begins accepting waste and continuing until final closure. XX. No permit shall be granted for a landfill unless undisturbed in-situ soils for 20 feet immediately beneath the footprint and underneath all leachate storage and transfer infrastructure have a maximum saturated hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10^-4 centimeters per second(cm/sec) or less. If the above in-situ soils do not meet the maximum hydraulic conductivity criterion of 1 x 10^-4 cm/sec, no amount of imported soil can overcome such deficiency, and the tract shall be deemed impermissible for use as a landfill. XXI. No permit shall be granted for a landfill unless the subgrade below the liner consists of soil with a saturated hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10^-4 cm/sec or less. XXII. All references to number-year storm events regarding solid waste landfill permitting requirements in relation to design, maintenance, leachate management, etc., shall have the value of a 100-year storm with a 50 percent margin of safety. XXIII. The department shall incorporate the \"Ford Act\" found at 40 C.F.R. 258 into landfill permitting requirements, specifically the provision limiting the construction or establishment of municipal solid waste landfills within 6 miles of certain smaller public airports. 4 Permit Denial. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 149-M:9, IX to read as follows: IX. The department [may] shall deny a permit application under this section to a person if any of the following applies: 5 Rulemaking. The introductory paragraph of RSA 149-M:7 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: The commissioner shall have the responsibility and authority to adopt rules, under RSA 541-A, that are necessary to protect the public health and the environment with an ample margin of safety relative to this chapter, including rules relative to: 6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 2025-1041h AMENDED ANALYSIS The bill requires the department to modify rules to avoid significant harms to human health and the environment, and changes the enabling statute of the department of environmental services solid waste division to require the department to consider health and the environment when making future rules.", "source": "HC017.pdf", "targets": ["the whole bill"], "supersedes": []}, {"num": "2025-3050s", "kind": "Committee Amendment", "where": "committee", "date": "2026-01-07", "body": "S", "adopted": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "mover": "", "proposed_by": "", "text": "", "source": "", "targets": [], "supersedes": []}, {"num": "2026-0046s", "kind": "Floor Amendment", "where": "floor", "date": "2026-01-07", "body": "S", "adopted": false, "vote_kind": "RC", "mover": "Sen. Rochefort", "proposed_by": "", "text": "", "source": "", "targets": [], "supersedes": []}, {"num": "2026-1932s", "kind": "Committee Amendment", "where": "committee", "date": "2026-05-14", "body": "S", "adopted": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "mover": "", "proposed_by": "", "text": "", "source": "", "targets": [], "supersedes": []}, {"num": "2026-2156e", "kind": "Enrolled Bill Amendment", "where": "enrolment", "date": "2026-06-04", "body": "S", "adopted": true, "vote_kind": "VV", "mover": "", "proposed_by": "", "text": "", "source": "", "targets": [], "supersedes": []}], "billtext": {"version": "FINAL VERSION", "title": "AN ACT establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.", "analysis": "This bill establishes a solid waste site evaluation committee.", "body": "26Mar2025... 1041h\n01/07/2026 3050s\n05/14/2026 1932s\n4Jun2026... 2156EBA 25-0579\n08/09\nBe it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:\n288:1 New Subdivision; Solid Waste Site Evaluation Committee. Amend RSA 149-M by inserting after section 64 the following new subdivision:\nSolid Waste Site Evaluation Committee\n149-M:65 Declaration of Purpose.\nI. The legislature and the executive branch recognize that the selection of sites for major solid waste disposal facilities may have significant statewide, regional, and local impacts that are not fully evaluated through existing regulatory review.\nII. Accordingly, the general court finds that it is in the public interest to establish a procedure to evaluate the local, regional, and statewide benefits and burdens of a new major solid waste facility that are not captured by existing regulatory reviews, including public health and safety, noise, odor, aesthetics, local and regional economic impacts, property value impacts, nature and source of waste, need, impacts on tourism, recreation and traffic, and other similar impacts.\nIII. Furthermore, the general court recognizes there is a compelling state interest in maintaining adequate, reasonably priced, and environmentally protective disposal capacity for solid waste generated in New Hampshire.\nIV. The general court prefers that new landfill capacity be developed in expansions of existing permitted landfills or brownfield sites instead of on greenfield sites.\n149-M:66 Definitions. In this subdivision:\nI. \u201cAcceptance\u201d means a determination by the committee that it finds that the application is complete and ready for consideration.\nII. \u201cAdministrator\u201d means the administrator of the site evaluation committee established pursuant to RSA 162-H:3-a.\nIII. \u201cAffected municipality\u201d means any municipality or unincorporated place in which any part of a major solid waste disposal facility is proposed to be located and any municipality or unincorporated place from which any part of the proposed major solid waste disposal facility will be visible or audible, including off-site traffic impacts.\nIV. \u201cCertificate\u201d means the document issued by the committee, containing such terms and conditions as the committee deems appropriate, that authorizes the applicant to proceed with the proposed site and facility.\nV. \u201cCommence construction\u201d means any clearing of the land, excavation or other substantial action that would result in long-term impacts to the site of the proposed facility, but does not include land surveying, optioning or acquiring land or rights in land, changes desirable for temporary use of the land for public recreational uses, necessary subsurface explorations to determine hydrogeologic and soil conditions, work required as part of an application to any federal, state, or local authority, or other preconstruction monitoring or testing to establish background information related to the suitability of the site for the proposed use.\nVI. \u201cCommittee\u201d means the solid waste evaluation committee established by this subdivision.\nVII. \u201cDepartment\u201d means the department of environmental services.\nVIII. \u201cFiling\u201d means the date on which the application is first submitted to the committee.\nIX. \"Human health\" is defined to be consistent with \"public health and safety\" as that term is utilized in RSA 162-H.\nX. \"Landfill expansion\" means an addition to the permitted capacity of an existing facility as defined in RSA 149-M:4, IX.\nXI. \u201cMajor solid waste disposal facility\u201d means a location, system, or physical structure for the collection, separation, storage, transfer, processing, treatment, or disposal of solid waste with a proposed waste acceptance rate greater than 100,000 tons per year. \"Major solid waste disposal facility\" does not include a facility designed to manage food waste in accordance with RSA 149-M:27, V(b)(1)-(5), or any facility proposed to be constructed by a New Hampshire municipal government.\nXII. \u201cPerson\u201d means any individual, group, firm, partnership, corporation, cooperative, municipality, political subdivision, government agency, or other organization.\n149-M:67 Solid Waste Evaluation Committee Established.\nI. There is hereby established a committee to be known as the New Hampshire solid waste site evaluation committee consisting of 7 members, as follows:\n(a) The chairperson of the waste management council established under RSA 21-O:9. who shall serve as chairperson of the committee. If there is an appeal pending before the waste management council related to the major solid waste disposal facility, then the chairperson of the wetlands council, water council, or air resources council established under RSA 21-O, selected by the commissioner of the department, shall serve on the committee and as chairperson of the committee.\n(b) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.\n(c) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.\n(d) Four members and, when required by RSA 149-M:68, an alternate member, appointed by the governor with the consent of the executive council, including a member who serves on a local conservation commission, a member who has expertise in the private waste management industry, a member with expertise in municipal planning, and one member with expertise or experience in environmental protection, environmental health, or environmental science.\n(e) At any given time, there shall not be more than 2 members of the committee with current or past employment, contract work, or consulting services in the private waste management industry.\n(f) No member of the committee may be an employee or contractor of an entity that owns or operates an existing or planned major solid waste disposal facility or an entity that has applied to own or operate a major solid waste disposal facility.\nII. All members, including those who sit for a member recused under RSA 149-M:68, shall refrain from ex parte communications regarding any matter pending before the committee. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the committee\u2019s business.\nIII. The committee shall be administratively attached to the department of environmental services.\nIV. The chairperson shall serve as the chief executive of the committee and may:\n(a) Serve as presiding officer.\n(b) Delegate to other members the duties of the presiding officer, as appropriate.\n(c) Establish, with the consent of the committee, the budgetary requirements of the committee.\n(d) Engage personnel in accordance with this chapter.\nV. The presiding officer may appoint a hearing officer to perform the functions described in RSA 149-M:70, V.\n149-M:68 Members Appointed by the Governor with the Consent of Council.\nI. Members and alternate members appointed under RSA 149-M:67, I(c) and (d) shall serve 4-year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member who is succeeded.\nII. If at any time the member appointed by the governor with the consent of the executive council must recuse himself or herself from a matter before the committee or is not otherwise available for good reason, the alternate member shall replace such member.\nIII. No member nor any member of his or her family shall receive income from entities that own or operate, or have applied to own or operate, major solid waste disposal facilities in New Hampshire. The members appointed by the governor with the consent of the executive council and their alternates shall comply with RSA 15-A and RSA 15-B.\nIV. Any member appointed by the governor with the consent of the executive council may be removed from office in accordance with RSA 4:1.\n149-M:69 Administrator and Other Committee Support. The administrator shall provide support to the committee. If the administrator is not available or the position is vacant, the committee may hire an independent contractor at the expense of the applicant. The administrator shall be under the supervision of the chairperson when performing duties for the committee. The administrator shall be compensated for work performed for the committee as set forth in RSA 149-M:85. The administrator, or chairperson in the absence of an administrator, with committee approval, may engage additional technical, legal, or administrative support to fulfill the functions of the committee as necessary.\n149-M:70 Powers and Duties of the Committee; Rules.\nI. The committee shall:\n(a) Evaluate and issue any certificate under this chapter for a major solid waste\ndisposal facility.\n(b) Determine the terms and conditions of any certificate issued under this chapter.\n(c) Adjudicate enforcement matters.\n(d) Assist the public in understanding the requirements of this chapter.\n(e) Deny applications for a certificate based on such findings and rulings as may be\nnecessary to support its decision to deny.\n(f) Execute the general court's stated preference that new landfill capacity shall be based on need and shall only be developed in accordance with RSA 149-M:65, IV.\nII. The committee shall hold hearings as required by this chapter and such additional hearings as it deems necessary and appropriate and, in addition to the requirements under RSA 91-A, ensure adequate and timely public notice of no less than 7 calendar days.\nIII. The committee may delegate to the administrator or such state agency or official as it deems appropriate the authority to specify the use of any technique, methodology, practice, or procedure approved by the committee within a certificate issued under this chapter, or the authority to specify minor changes in the major solid waste disposal facility configuration to the extent that such changes are authorized by the certificate for those portions of a proposed major solid waste\ndisposal facility project.\nIV. The committee shall not delegate its authority or duties except as provided under this subdivision.\nV. In any matter before the committee, the presiding officer, or a hearing officer designated by the presiding officer, may hear and decide procedural matters that are before the committee, including procedural schedules, consolidation of parties with substantially similar interests, discovery schedules and motions, and identification of significant disputed issues for hearing and decision by the committee. Undisputed petitions for intervention may be decided by the hearing officer and disputed petitions shall be decided by the presiding officer. Any party aggrieved by a decision on a petition to intervene may within 10 calendar days request that the committee review such decision. Other procedural decisions may be reviewed by the committee at its discretion.\nVI. The committee shall issue such rules to administer this chapter, pursuant to RSA 541-A, after public notice and hearing, as may from time to time be required.\n149-M:71 Prohibitions and Restrictions.\nI. No person shall commence construction of any major solid waste disposal facility within the state unless it has obtained a certificate pursuant to this chapter. Such facilities shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the terms of the certificate. Such certificates are not required for changes or additions to existing facilities unless they propose an increase in the average permitted annual capacity over the lifespan of the existing facility greater than or equal to 50,000 tons or 100,000 cubic yards per year. Such a certificate shall not be transferred or assigned without approval of the committee. Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, any approved major solid waste facility shall not be constructed, operated, or closed in a manner materially different than the manner in which it was presented in the application for a certificate as modified and conditioned by such certificate.\nII. Notwithstanding RSA 541-A:29 or any other law to the contrary, an application for a certificate from the committee shall be approved or denied by the committee prior to final decisions on all other state agency permit applications, except for the department's determination in accordance with RSA 149-M:11, III. Applications for certificates may be filed and evaluated by the committee concurrently with other state approvals and public hearings may be scheduled concurrently with hearings held by other state agencies as part of their permitting process for the same facility.\nIII. Notwithstanding paragraph II, for facilities under review by the department for a permit on or prior to July 1, 2026, an application for a certificate from the committee shall be approved or denied after other state agency approvals have been obtained. The committee need not assess technical questions already considered by other states or federal agencies, but shall take into account the conclusions of these analyses, including permit terms and conditions, in its approval or denial of the certificate. The committee may also take into account independent analyses in its process of approval or denial of the certificate.\n149-M:72 Application for Certificate.\nI. All applications for a certificate for a major solid waste disposal facility shall be filed with the administrator or the chair of the committee.\nII. Upon filing of an application, the chairperson or designated presiding officer shall expeditiously conduct a preliminary review to ascertain if the application contains sufficient information to carry out the purposes of this chapter. If the application does not contain such sufficient information, the chairperson or designated presiding officer shall, in writing, expeditiously notify the applicant of that fact and specify what information the applicant must supply.\nIII. To carry out the committee\u2019s duties in RSA 149-M:70, each application shall:\n(a) Describe in reasonable detail the types and quantities of waste and their characteristics proposed to be accepted and size of each major part of the proposed facility.\n(b) Describe in reasonable detail the source of waste to be accepted and if there is a preference for waste originating within the state of New Hampshire.\n(c) Describe how the proposed facility satisfies the criteria listed under RSA 149-M:11, III.\n(d) Identify both the applicant\u2019s preferred choice and other alternatives it considers available for the site and configuration of each major part of the proposed facility and the reasons for the applicant\u2019s preferred choice.\n(e) Describe in reasonable detail the impact of each major part of the proposed facility on existing local, regional, and state land uses.\n(f) Document that written notification of the proposed project, including appropriate copies of the application, has been given to the appropriate governing body of each affected municipality, as defined in RSA 149-M:66, III. The application shall include a list of the affected municipalities.\n(g) Provide analysis on the local, regional, and statewide visual impact of the proposed facility during construction, operation, and post-closure and the visual impacts as evaluated through a visual impact assessment prepared in accordance with professional standards by an expert in the field.\n(h) Provide information in reasonable detail about the impacts on local, regional and state property values, human health, tourism, outdoor recreation, wildlife, traffic, noise, and odor by the proposed facility. These analyses shall be conducted in accordance with professional standards by an expert in these fields.\n(i) Provide a reasonable amount of information relative to how new contaminants of concern not regulated by a permit issued by the department will be monitored, evaluated, and managed over the proposed life of the facility.\n(j) Provide a reasonable amount of information relative to the potential economic harms of the proposed project on the local area, affected municipalities, the region, the state, and potential infrastructure deterioration.\n(k) Provide a reasonable amount of information relative to the potential economic benefits of the proposed project on the local area, affected municipalities, the region, the state, and potential infrastructure improvements.\n(l) Provide such additional information as the committee may require or request to carry out the purpose of this chapter.\nIV. To the extent any information provided in the application was submitted and considered by a state agency as part of its permitting evaluation and decision under RSA 149-M:71, III, the applicant shall specify what information was so considered and the statutory and regulatory authority for that agency\u2019s consideration of the information.\nV. For all information submitted with the application that was prepared by an outside consultant or expert, the applicant shall submit the qualifications of such consultants or experts to prepare such information.\nVI. The committee shall require the applicant to hire an independent third party at the expense of the applicant and agreed upon by the committee in consultation with the municipality where the facility is proposed to be located, to peer review any assessments provided under this section.\nVII. The chairperson or designated presiding officer shall decide whether to accept the application as administratively complete within 60 days of filing. If the chairperson or designated presiding officer rejects an application because it determines it to be administratively incomplete, the applicant may choose to file a new and more complete application or cure the defects in the rejected application within 30 days of receipt of notification of rejection. Such deadlines may be extended by agreement of the applicant and the committee.\nVIII. Public information sessions shall be held in accordance with RSA 149-M:76.\nIX. Within 180 days of the acceptance of an application, the committee shall issue or deny a certificate for the proposed major solid waste disposal facility.\nX. The applicant shall immediately inform the committee of any substantive modification to its application.\nXI. The committee may request that state agencies with relevant technical expertise\nparticipate in committee proceedings.\nXII. The department shall conduct a review of the application information submitted pursuant to RSA 149-M:72, III(c) to determine whether the facility has demonstrated that it satisfies the criteria in RSA 149-M:11, III. Such review shall be conducted in accordance with RSA 149-M:11. The department shall report its findings to the committee in order to inform the committee\u2019s decision on the application.\nXIII. The committee may deny a certificate based upon the department's findings in relation to RSA 149-M:11, III.\nXIV. The committee may deny a certificate based upon the criteria in RSA 149-M:9, IX.\nXV. A state agency may intervene as a party in any committee proceeding in the same manner as other persons under RSA 541-A.\n149-M:73 Disclosure of Ownership. Any application for a certificate, or for change in ownership and transfer of certificate, shall be signed and sworn to by the person or executive officer of the association or corporation making such application and shall contain the following information:\nI. Full name and address of the person, association, or corporation.\nII. If an association or limited liability company, the name of the state under which it was formed and the names and residences of the members of the association or limited liability company.\nIII. If a corporation, the name of the state under which it is incorporated with its principal place of business and the names and addresses of its directors, officers, and stockholders.\nIV. If doing business in a form other than as an association, limited liability company, or corporation, the form of the business, the name of the state under which it was formed, and the names and residences of anyone with a financial, ownership, or control interest in the organization.\nV. The location or locations where an applicant is to conduct its business.\nVI. A statement of assets and liabilities of the applicant and other relevant financial information of such applicant.\nVII. The committee shall administratively approve changes of ownership and transfers of certificates within 90 days of a petition if it determines the new certificate holder has adequate financial, technical, and managerial capability to assure construction and operation of the facility in continuing compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificate and any federal, state, and local permits.\n149-M:74 Application and Filing Fees.\nI. A person filing with the committee an application for a certificate for a major solid waste disposal facility shall pay to the committee at the time of filing a fee determined in accordance with the fee schedule described in paragraph II. If an application for a certificate for a major solid waste disposal facility is deemed incomplete pursuant to RSA 149-M:72, VII, and a new application is submitted thereunder, the unused portion of the initial application fee shall be refunded to the applicant or credited to the filing of the new application. The committee may in its discretion provide for a credit or refund in other circumstances that are unforeseen by the applicant.\nII. The fees under paragraph I shall be determined in accordance with a fee schedule posted by the committee on its website, which shall include the following amounts:\n(a) Application fee for a major solid waste disposal facility: $20,000 base charge and $1,000 per additional 10,000 tons/year throughput in excess of 100,000 tons per year.\n(b) Filing fees for administrative proceedings:\n(1) Petition for committee jurisdiction: $500.\n(2) Certificate transfer of ownership: $1,000.\n(3) Request to modify a certificate: $1,000.\nIII. All fee charges shall be deposited in the solid waste evaluation committee fund established in RSA 149-M:84 and shall be nonlapsing and accounted for as a separate line item.\nIV. The committee shall review and evaluate the application fees and filing fees in the fee schedule in subparagraphs II(a) and (b) at least once each year. The committee may increase any amount in the fee schedule by no more than the increase in the consumer price index from the prior year, provided that any such increase shall occur not more frequently than once during any 12-month period. Modifications to the fee schedule shall be posted on the committee website, with a\nlink prominently displayed on the home page.\nV. If the committee determines the cost of committee proceedings for an application significantly exceed the filing fees paid by the applicant for that application, the additional cost shall be borne by the applicant or certificate holder in such amount as may be approved by the committee.\n149-M:75 Counsel for the Public.\nI. An application for a certificate under this subdivision shall be served contemporaneously by the applicant upon the attorney general. Upon receipt of such an application, the attorney general shall appoint an assistant attorney general as counsel for the public in connection with the committee\u2019s consideration of the application. Counsel for the public shall be deemed to represent the public as a party to the proceedings before the committee.\nII. This section shall not be construed to prevent any person from being heard or represented by counsel; provided, however, the committee may compel consolidation of representation for such persons as have, in the committee\u2019s reasonable judgment, substantially identical interests.\n149-M:76 Public Hearing; Studies.\nI. Notice of any project for which an application for a certificate has been submitted shall be issued pursuant to RSA 36:56, III.\nII. At least 30 days prior to filing an application for a certificate, an applicant shall hold at least one public information session in the affected municipality where the proposed facility is to be located. This session may be held concurrently with a public session held as a requirement of any other state permit or approval.\nIII. The committee may order the applicant to provide such additional public information sessions in affected municipalities as are reasonable to inform the public of the proposed project.\nIV. Within 90 days after acceptance of an application for a certificate, the committee shall hold at least one public information session in each municipality where the proposed facility is proposed to be located.\nV. Subsequent public hearings shall be in the nature of adjudicative proceedings under RSA 541-A and shall be held in the municipality in which the proposed facility is to be located or in Concord, New Hampshire, as determined by the committee. The committee shall give adequate public notice of the time and place of each subsequent hearing.\nVI. The committee shall adopt rules regarding the timing and method of notices for public information sessions and public hearings, and any other requirements regarding such sessions and hearings.\nVII. The committee shall consider and weigh all evidence presented at public hearings and shall consider and weigh written information and reports submitted to it by members of the public prior to the closing of the record of the proceeding. The committee shall provide an opportunity at one or more public hearings for comments from the governing body of each affected municipality and residents of each affected municipality. The committee shall consider, as appropriate, prior committee findings and rulings on the same or similar subject matters, but shall not be bound thereby.\nVIII. The solid waste evaluation committee shall require from the applicant whatever information it deems necessary to assist in the conduct of the hearings, and any investigation or studies it may undertake, and in the determination of the terms and conditions of any certificate under consideration.\nIX. The committee and counsel for the public shall conduct such reasonable studies and investigations as they deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter and may employ a consultant or consultants, legal counsel, and other staff in furtherance of the duties imposed by this chapter, the cost of which shall be borne by the applicant or certificate holder in such amount as may be approved by the committee. The committee and counsel for the public are further authorized to assess the applicant or certificate holder for all travel and related expenses associated with the processing of an application or other proceedings under this chapter.\nX. Times for conducting public hearings and rendering a decision on the application may be extended for good cause upon written request of the applicant.\n149-M:77 Judicial Review. Decisions made pursuant to this chapter shall be appealed in accordance with RSA 541.\n149-M:78 Monitoring and Enforcement.\nI. The department shall monitor the construction and operation of any major solid waste disposal facility granted a certificate under this chapter, after all other subsequent approvals are obtained, to ensure compliance with such certificate and enforce the terms and conditions of any such certificate. With the exception of the authority retained by the state agencies in accordance with paragraph V, the department may delegate the authority to monitor the construction or operation of any major solid waste disposal facility granted a certificate under this chapter to such state agency or official as it deems appropriate but shall ensure that the terms and conditions of the certificate are met. Any authorized representative or delegate of the department shall have a right of entry onto the premises of any part of the solid waste generation facility to ascertain if the facility is being constructed or operated in continuing compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificate. During normal hours of business administration and on the premises of the facility, such a representative or delegate shall also have a right to inspect such records of the certificate holder as are relevant to the terms or conditions of the certificate.\nII. Whenever the department administratively determines, on its own or in response to a complaint, that any term or condition of any certificate issued under this chapter or prior law is being violated, it shall, in writing, notify the certificate holder of the specific violation and order the person to immediately terminate the violation. If, 60 days after receipt of the order, the person has failed or neglected to terminate the violation or be compliant in addressing the violation consistent with direction from the department, the department shall notify the committee, which may suspend the person\u2019s certificate. In addition to suspension, if, after 60 days of receipt of the order, the person has failed or neglected to terminate the violation, the committee may impose a fine not to exceed $5,000 per day until the violation is corrected. Except for emergencies, prior to any suspension or imposition of a fine, the committee shall give written notice of its consideration of suspension or imposition of a fine and of its reasons therefor and shall provide opportunity for a prompt hearing.\nIII. In addition to other remedies provided in this chapter, upon petition of the department, the committee may suspend a certificate if the committee determines that a person has made a material misrepresentation in the application, or in the supplemental or additional statements of fact, or studies required of the applicant, or if the committee determines that the person has violated the provisions of this chapter, or any rule adopted under this chapter. Except for emergencies, prior to any suspension, the committee shall give written notice of its consideration of suspension and of its reasons therefor and shall provide an opportunity for a prompt hearing.\nIV. Upon petition of the department, the committee may revoke any certificate that is suspended after the person holding the suspended certificate has been given at least 90 days written notice of the committee\u2019s consideration of revocation and of its reasons therefor and has been provided an opportunity for a full hearing.\nV. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, each state agency having permitting or other regulatory authority shall retain all of its powers and duties of enforcement.\nVI. The full amount of costs and expenses incurred by the department and committee in connection with any enforcement action against a person holding a certificate, in which the person is determined to have violated any provision of this chapter, any rule adopted by the department or committee, or any of the terms and conditions of the issued certificate, shall be assessed to the person and shall be paid by the person to the committee. Any amounts paid by a person to the committee pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in the solid waste evaluation committee fund established in RSA 149-M:84.\nVII. The department may adopt rules in furtherance of its monitoring and enforcement responsibilities under this chapter.\n149-M:79 Records. Complete verbatim records shall be kept by the committee of all hearings, and records of all other actions, proceedings, and correspondence of the committee, including submittals of information and reports by members of the public, shall be maintained, all of which records shall be open to public inspection and copying as provided for under RSA 91-A. Committee records regarding pending applications for a certificate shall also be made available on the committee\u2019s website unless such records were submitted under seal and are exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A.\n149-M:80 Temporary Suspension of Deliberations. If the committee, at any time while an application for a certificate is before it, deems it to be in the public interest, it may temporarily suspend its deliberations and time frames established under this chapter.\n149-M:81 Findings and Certificate Issuance.\nI. Any certificate issued by the committee shall be based on the record. The decision to issue a certificate in its final form or to deny an application once it has been accepted shall be made by a majority of the committee.\nII. The committee may consult with interested regional agencies and agencies of border states in the consideration of certificates.\nIII. After due consideration of all relevant information regarding the potential siting, including potential significant impacts and benefits, the committee shall determine if issuance of a certificate will serve the objectives of this chapter. In order to issue a certificate, the committee shall find that:\n(a) The applicant has adequate financial, technical, and managerial capability to assure construction, operation, and closure of the facility in continuing compliance with the terms and conditions of the certificate.\n(b) The facility will not unduly interfere with the orderly development of the region with due consideration having been given to the views of municipal and regional planning commissions and municipal governing bodies.\n(c) The facility satisfies the criteria in RSA 149-M:11, III, as determined by the department.\n(d) The public benefit of the facility shall outweigh any adverse impact of the facility on human health, aesthetics, historic preservation, economic impacts to the region, tourism, outdoor recreation, regional and statewide business development, wildlife, noise, odor, traffic and transportation impacts, existing land uses, including property values, characteristics and source of waste, and any other impacts assessed as part of the application pursuant to RSA 149-M:72, III.\n(e) Issuance of a certificate will serve the public interest of the citizens of New Hampshire.\nIV. The committee shall issue an order granting or denying a certificate. Such order shall summarize and address issues of concern expressed during public information sessions and hearings to ensure that the public's voice has been heard and recorded.\nV. A certificate of site and facility may contain such reasonable terms and conditions, including, but not limited to the authority to require bonding, as the committee deems necessary. Such certificates, when issued, shall be final and subject only to judicial review.\nVI. The committee shall condition the certificate upon the results of applicable federal and state approvals or appeal processes and required federal and state agency studies whose study period exceeds the application period.\nVII. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that applications for landfill expansions shall satisfy the criteria in subparagraphs III(a), III(b), and III(d). The burden of producing evidence to rebut this presumption rests with the party challenging the action. This presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.\n149-M:82 Penalties.\nI. Any construction or operation of major solid waste disposal facilities without first obtaining a certificate from the committee, or any material violation of the terms and conditions of a certificate issued by the committee, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation or for each day of a continuing violation. Such violation may also be enjoined by the superior court upon application of the attorney general.\nII. Whoever purposely or knowingly commits any violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person, or guilty of a felony if any other person.\n149-M:83 Severability. If any provision of this chapter, or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this chapter are severable.\n149-M:84 Fund Established; Funding Plan. There is hereby established in the office of the state treasurer a nonlapsing, special fund to be known as the solid waste evaluation committee fund. All application and other filing fees received by the committee under this chapter shall be deposited in the fund. All moneys in the fund shall be continually appropriated to the committee and shall be used to pay for operating costs of the committee and the partial salary of the administrator. If the administrator position is vacant, the fund may be used to pay an independent contractor to perform those duties. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the committee may engage the department for additional technical, legal, or administrative support to fulfill the requirements of this chapter, the cost of which shall be charged directly to the applicant or major solid waste disposal facility owner.\n149-M:85 Compensation and Reimbursement.\nI. The public members of the committee shall be compensated for all time spent on committee business, including compensation and reimbursement for major solid waste disposal facility proceeding time and expenses. Compensation shall be provided on a pro rata basis, based upon the daily salary rate of an unclassified position at the initial step in grade FF under RSA 94:1-a, I(a).\nII. State agencies represented on the committee shall be reimbursed for major solid waste disposal facility proceeding time and expenses incurred by their respective members or designees, except that time spent for the first 5 full days of their participation with respect to any application or other proceeding concerning a major solid waste disposal facility shall not be subject to reimbursement. The rate of reimbursement to each respective agency shall be based on a pro rata share of the employee\u2019s salary, benefits, and related costs.\nIII. The department of justice shall be reimbursed in the same manner as described in paragraph II for major solid waste disposal facility proceeding time and expenses that are incurred by the counsel for the public.\nIV. All persons or agencies seeking compensation or reimbursement under this section shall keep detailed time and expense records which shall be submitted to the chairperson or administrator and used to determine the amount of compensation or reimbursement. The chairperson or administrator shall develop a record keeping system and accounting and payment procedures.\nV. Compensation shall not be provided to members of the committee for initial meetings conducted prior to acceptance of application fees. The department shall provide support for the adoption of rules established by the committee.\n149-M:86 Solid Waste Permit Applications Suspended. The department shall not issue any permit approvals that authorize new capacity for major solid waste disposal facilities until rules are adopted by the committee or until July 1, 2027, whichever is later.\n288:2 New Subparagraph; Solid Waste Evaluation Committee Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:\n(411) Moneys deposited in the solid waste evaluation committee fund as established in RSA 149-M:84.\n288:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.\nApproved: July 10, 2026\nEffective Date: September 08, 2026", "in_text": [{"date": "26Mar2025", "short": "1041h", "num": "2025-1041h"}, {"date": "01/07/2026", "short": "3050s", "num": "2025-3050s"}, {"date": "05/14/2026", "short": "1932s", "num": "2026-1932s"}], "chars": 39883}, "nver": 6, "namd": 5, "rsa": {"RSA 149-M:7": "/laws/149-m#s7", "RSA 149-M:3": "/laws/149-m#s3", "RSA 149-M:9": "/laws/149-m#s9", "RSA 483-B:4": "/laws/483-b#s4", "RSA 541-A": "/laws/541-a", "RSA 149-M": "/laws/149-m", "RSA 162-H:3-a": "/laws/162-h#s3-a", "RSA 162-H": "/laws/162-h", "RSA 149-M:4": "/laws/149-m#s4", "RSA 149-M:27": "/laws/149-m#s27", "RSA 21-O:9": "/laws/21-o#s9", "RSA 21-O": "/laws/21-o", "RSA 149-M:68": "/laws/149-m#s68", "RSA 149-M:70": "/laws/149-m#s70", "RSA 149-M:67": "/laws/149-m#s67", "RSA 15-A": "/laws/15-a", "RSA 15-B": "/laws/15-b", "RSA 4:1": "/laws/4#s1", "RSA 149-M:85": "/laws/149-m#s85", "RSA 149-M:65": "/laws/149-m#s65", "RSA 91-A": "/laws/91-a", "RSA 541-A:29": "/laws/541-a#s29", "RSA 149-M:11": "/laws/149-m#s11", "RSA 149-M:66": "/laws/149-m#s66", "RSA 149-M:71": "/laws/149-m#s71", "RSA 149-M:76": "/laws/149-m#s76", "RSA 149-M:72": "/laws/149-m#s72", "RSA 149-M:84": "/laws/149-m#s84", "RSA 36:56": "/laws/36#s56", "RSA 541": "/laws/541", "RSA 94:1-a": "/laws/94#s1-a", "RSA 6:12": "/laws/6#s12"}, "amends": {"RSA 149-M": "/laws/149-m", "RSA 6:12": "/laws/6#s12"}, "changed": ["6:12", "149-M:65", "149-M:66", "149-M:67", "149-M:68", "149-M:69", "149-M:70", "149-M:71", "149-M:72", "149-M:73", "149-M:74", "149-M:75", "149-M:76", "149-M:77", "149-M:78", "149-M:79", "149-M:80", "149-M:81", "149-M:82", "149-M:83", "149-M:84", "149-M:85", "149-M:86"], "related": [{"g": 2, "o": "2025-2026/HB1189", "n": "HB 1189-FN", "t": "establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee.", "y": 2026, "c": "Interim Study", "s": "This term's {b} has the same text."}, {"g": 2, "o": "2025-2026/SB536", "n": "SB 536-FN", "t": "relative to the solid waste facility site evaluation committee.", "y": 2026, "c": "Interim Study", "s": "Its text is also in {b}, a longer bill."}]}