New Hampshire HB 1802: relative to training, testing, and certification of local land use board members and making an appropriations therefor.

Bill Text

HB 1802-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2300

 06/09

HOUSE BILL 1802-FN-A

AN ACT relative to training, testing, and certification of local land use board members and making an appropriations therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Aylward, Merr. 5; Rep. Fracht, Graf. 16; Rep. Ulery, Hills. 13

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

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ANALYSIS

 This bill creates mandatory annual training, competency testing, and certification for members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment, establishes reporting requirements for the office of planning and development, sets minimum qualifications for board membership, and appropriates funds for implementation.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2300

 06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to training, testing, and certification of local land use board members and making an appropriations therefor.

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

 1 Findings and Purpose. 

 I. The general court finds that members of local land use boards make decisions at regular meetings and hearings held in a quasi-judicial capacity, affecting property rights and community development, and that such service requires knowledge of applicable statutes, regulations, and procedures. It is therefore the intent of the general court to require training, testing, and certification for planning board and zoning board of adjustment members, and to provide for transparency, accountability, and minimum qualifications for service. 

 II. The general court therefore declares that it is in the public interest to require all members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment to annually complete training developed by the office of planning and development, to annually attempt to pass an open-book test designed to measure competency, and if passing, to obtain a certificate of completion from the office of planning and development indicating a passing grade. It is further the purpose of this act to promote transparency and accountability by requiring public reporting of training completion, to establish clear enforcement provisions for noncompliance, and to set minimum qualifications for board membership. 

 2 New Paragraph; Office of Planning and Development Training. Amend RSA 9-A:2 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph: 

 V. Develop and provide training, testing, and certification for members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment pursuant to RSA 673:3-a. 

 3 Training, Testing, and Certification; Duties of the Office of Planning and Development. RSA 673:3-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 673:3-a Training, Testing, and Certification. 

 I. In this section: 

 (a) "Member" means elected, appointed, ex-officio, or appointed alternate members of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment, including a committee or subcommittee of those boards.

 (b) "Office" means the office of planning and development.

 II. Each member of a zoning board of adjustment or planning board shall, within 60 days of being seated and annually thereafter, complete training developed and provided by the office, covering relevant statutes, regulations, and board procedures, and shall attempt to obtain a certificate of completion by passing the associated test. Training and testing shall be web-based, open book, and provided at no cost. Members must make at least 3 attempts within 60 days of being seated, and annually thereafter, to obtain a certificate of completion by submitting the requisite test to the office for scoring. A score of at least 65 percent is required to pass and obtain a certificate of completion. 

 III. The office shall: 

 (a) Publish a list of current certificate holders, including name, town, board, membership type, and term expiration, within 30 days of issuance and update as necessary.

 (b) Maintain confidential contact information for certificate delivery.

 (c) Provide certificates electronically or via preferred mailing address.

 (d) Members shall provide copies of their certificate to the board chair or appointing authority within 5 days for public record.

 IV. The chairperson shall announce certified members at the start of any public hearing and provide newly seated members with a "Welcome to the Board" letter designed by the office.

 V. Appointed or alternate member vacancies shall be posted in 2 public places, including the municipality's website if available, until filled.

 VI. Interested parties must submit a l