New Hampshire SB 559: reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.

Bill Text

SB 559-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/05/2026 0343s
2026 SESSION
26-2119
06/08
SENATE BILL 559-FN
AN ACT reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.
SPONSORS: Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Watters,
Dist 4; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Birdsell,
Dist 19; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Rep. Miller, Straf. 21; Rep.
Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Rombeau, Hills. 2
COMMITTEE: Transportation
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ANALYSIS
This bill reduces the minimum speed limits that local authorities may set in certain districts
from 25 miles per hour to 20 miles per hour, based on engineering or traffic investigations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

SB 559-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/05/2026 0343s 26-2119
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Alteration of Speed Limits. Amend RSA 265:63, I(c) and (d) to read as follows:
(c) Decreases the limit outside an urban district but not to less than [25] 20 miles per
hour; or
(d) Decreases the limit within any business or urban residence district but not to less
than [25] 20 miles per hour.
2 New Paragraph; Alteration of Limits; Reference to Definitions of Urban Residence District
and Business District Added. Amend RSA 265:63 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new
paragraph:
VII. In this section, "urban residence district" shall have the same meaning as in RSA
259:118 and "business district" shall have the same meaning as in RSA 259:8.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

LBA
26-2119
02/09/2026
SB 559-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-0343s)
AN ACT reducing the minimum allowable speed limit on locally controlled roads.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated State Impact
FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029
Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Revenue Fund None
Expenditures* Indeterminable
Funding Source General Fund
Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0
Funding Source None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact
FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029
County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
County Expenditures Indeterminable
Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Expenditures Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a
penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional
systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state,
as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at:
https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New
Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association