New Hampshire HB 244: relative to the right of attendance by general court members at legislative proceedings.

Bill Text

HB 244 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

7Jan2026... 2952h

03/12/2026 1025s

2025 SESSION

 25-0112

 06/09

HOUSE BILL 244

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

SPONSORS: Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Erf, Hills. 28; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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ANALYSIS

 This bill reorganizes the state building and fire code by repealing it from certain parts of the RSA and reenacting it with some modifications to another part of the RSA.

 This bill makes some grammar and spelling corrections.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Jan2026... 2952h

03/12/2026 1025s 25-0112

 06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

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

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Procedure for Ordering Building Vacated. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 147:16-a to read as follows: 

 The health officer shall have the authority to order occupants to vacate a building, structure, or other premises if the officer determines, based on reasonable information and belief, that the condition of such premises constitutes a clear and imminent danger to the life or health of occupants or other persons, and that protection of life or health requires vacating the premises. For the purposes of this section, "officer" shall mean any municipal official who orders such vacation, including the health officer acting under the authority of this section, RSA 147:4, or RSA 147:11, the building [inspector] official acting under RSA [674:52-a] 155-A:3, or the fire chief acting under RSA 154:21-a. The following procedure shall apply: 

 2 Public Accommodations Constructed After January 1, 1992. Amend RSA 155:39-d to read as follows: 

 155:39-d Public Accommodations Constructed After January 1, 1992. This section applies to any new building or facility proposed to be constructed specifically as a place of public accommodation on or after January 1, 1992. This section also applies to any single enlargement of an existing building or facility which enlargement is proposed to be constructed on or after January 1, 1992, if the cost of such enlargement exceeds 25 percent of the fair market value of the real estate and building or facility situated thereon but only to the portion thereof which is so enlarged. Facilities subject to this section shall meet the requirements of the New Hampshire code for barrier-free design established pursuant to RSA 275-C:14-17. This section shall also be enforced by the building [inspector]official as provided in RSA [676:11-13] 155-A:3. 

 3 New Paragraphs; Definitions. Amend RSA 155-A:1 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraphs:

 VII. "District commissioners" means the board of commissioners of a village district or precinct. 

 VIII. "Local governing body" means, in addition to any other appropriate title: 

 (a) Board of selectmen in a town; 

 (b) City council or board of aldermen in a city; 

 (c) Village district commissioners in a village district; or 

 (d) County commissioners in a county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places. 

 IX. "Local legislative body" means one of the following basic forms of government utilized by a municipality: 

 (a) Council, whether city or town; 

 (b) Mayor-council; 

 (c) Mayor-board of aldermen; 

 (d) Village district or precinct; 

 (e) Town meeting; or 

 (f) County convention. 

 X. "Mayor" means the chief executive officer of the municipality, whether the official designation of the office is mayor of a city, city or town manager, the board of selectmen of a town, the board of commissioners of a village district, the county commissioners of a county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places, or any other title or any official designated in the municipal charter to perform the duties of "mayor." 

 XI. "Municipality" or "municipal" means, includes and relates to cities, towns, village districts, and counties in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places. 

 XII. "Selectmen" means the board of selectmen of a town and the county commissioners of a county in which there are located unincorporated towns or unorganized places. 

 4 State Building Code. Amend RSA 155-A:2, VI to read as follows:

 VI. For any municipality which has not adopted an enforcement mechanism under RSA [674:51] 155-A:3, t