Flurry of Ayotte-signed bills expected to ease state's housing crisis

"Tackling our housing crisis is critical to keeping New Hampshire the best state in the nation for economic opportunity," said Governor Ayotte. "From streamlining our state permitting process, to cutting unnecessary red tape, to expanding opportunities for new housing construction, and more, we made important strides this year. I thank the legislators, advocates, and private sector partners who worked to bring these bills to my desk, and I look forward to continuing to work together to bring more housing to our state for our young people, our seniors, and for all of New Hampshire."

The Governor highlighted the following bills, which were officially signed into law in July:

• HB 428: Establishes a uniform statewide building code to reduce confusion, cut red tape, and make housing safer and more affordable.
• HB 457: Prevents municipalities from restricting occupancy or discriminating based on household makeup, opening more affordable housing options.
• HB 577: Expands and simplifies rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), enabling more flexible, affordable housing options for families.
• HB 631: Enables the conversion of underused commercial properties into housing.
• SB 153: Sets a 60-day deadline for state driveway permits on multifamily projects to reduce delays and speed up construction of new housing.
• SB 173: Adjusts property tax assessments for housing build using the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program to support affordability and financial stability for low-income communities.
• SB 188: Permits licensed third-party inspectors to expedite safe building inspections, reducing delays and supporting faster development.
• SB 281: Makes it easier to build along non-maintained roads while protecting municipalities from added liability.
• SB 282: Allows cost-effective, safe construction of mid-sized residential buildings with one staircase under modern fire safety standards.
• SB 283: Modernizes zoning by removing outdated space and height restrictions to encourage efficient, smarter housing development.
• SB 284: Eases parking requirements for new housing to lower costs and promote smart growth.