By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed nine bills, a toll increase for out of staters, a “book ban,” a measure that would have allowed the Attorney General’s Office to target health care centers where abortions are provided and a measure that would have allowed for landlords to get two months of rent up front.
But she did sign 74 bills into law which are listed below.
It was the vetoes, which can possibly be overridden, that received the most reaction from supporters and opponents.
HOUSING
With a lack of affordable housing being a key issue in the state and one that could be on the minds of voters this fall, the governor vetoed a measure that opponents said would have made it harder and more expensive for people to find homes.
“We’re grateful to Governor Ayotte for vetoing HB 1336, which would have made renting more expensive,” said Housing Action NH Director Nick Taylor. He said it comes at a time when New Hampshire families are facing rising costs and limited rental options. He said adding new costs would have “moved our state in the wrong direction.”
In June, over 40 organizations ranging from shelters and service providers to organizations representing aging populations, victims of domestic violence, and veterans signed a joint letter to Governor Kelly Ayotte urging her to veto HB 1336.
The median rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $2,024 in New Hampshire, which means that if the bill became law, qualified renters would need $6,072 available to rent the median 2-bedroom apartment.
Under current law, landlords may already require a security deposit equal to one month’s rent, in addition to the first month’s rent (or more) at move-in.
About 45 percent of renters currently pay more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to the March 2026 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
The governor’s veto statement read that “This bill seeks to address the housing access problem of renters who do not meet existing landlord-defined renter criteria such as credit history, income, prior evictions, or references. While improving housing access is essential, requiring these prospective renters to provide potentially thousands of dollars more than current law upfront would impede access to housing. Moreover, the bill’s language is not clear on how long a landlord can keep those funds and allows landlords discretion to unfairly withhold tenants’ deposits.” For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1336.”
TOLL INCREASES
As expected, the governor vetoed a measure which would have helped provide for more funding for the state’s highways by raising the price of tolls for all those without a New Hampshire EZ-Pass.
“I have clearly said that I do not support raising the tolls. I will continue to focus on making New Hampshire more affordable for all and a destination for tourists in the region. For this reason, I have vetoed Senate Bill 627,” she wrote.
ABORTION
Gov. Ayotte also announced the veto of HB 232, a bill that abortion supporters said would have used the Attorney General’s Office to target health centers and hospitals that provide abortion care and included no data or privacy protections. The bill would have required the Attorney General to create an annual report to share with New Hampshire politicians, potentially further jeopardizing the safety of abortion providers.
The governor wrote that “Federal law has long protected the religious beliefs or moral convictions of medical professionals and the right to decline to perform or assist an abortion. This federal right of conscience protects those in New Hampshire who work for abortion providers. Therefore, this bill is unnecessary and does not create any greater protections for New Hampshire medical professionals.
Kayla Montgomery, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England and Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund expressed thanks for the veto to the governor.
“On behalf of the Granite Staters who overwhelmingly opposed this anti-abortion bill – a solution in search of a problem – we thank Governor Ayotte for keeping her vow to veto anti-abortion legislation. Over the past two years, the legislature considered 16 anti-abortion bills, and all have failed thanks to the commitment and determination of reproductive health and rights supporters, advocacy organizations, legislators, patients, and providers. We know a supermajority of Granite Staters support access to abortion, and it is high time that New Hampshire leadership start working on real solutions to protect and strengthen reproductive health care,” Montgomery wrote.
HB 232 was the last remaining anti-abortion bill of the biennium.
BOOK BAN
Senate Bill 434 was also vetoed.
The governor wrote that “This bill is similar to the bill I vetoed last year. As a parent, I understand and appreciate the concerns parents have about their children being exposed to age-inappropriate or objectionable materials in schools. At the same time, existing New Hampshire law already requires school districts to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course material based on a parent’s determination that the material is objectionable. See RSA 186:11:IX-c. Parents must be notified at least two weeks in advance of course materials that involve human sexuality, sexual education, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression. If a parent objects in writing, New Hampshire law further requires an alternative agreed upon between the school district and the parent.
“As current law provides a mechanism for parents through their local school district to exercise their rights to ensure their children are not exposed to inappropriate materials, I have vetoed Senate Bill 434.”
Members of the New Hampshire Freedom to Read Coalition thanked the governor for the veto in a series of statements including one from Jacquelyn Benson, New Hampshire Regional Leader, for Authors Against Book Bans.
She said the bill’s “overly broad language would have handed a blunt instrument to book banners and exposed the state to legal challenges.”
MacKenzie Nicholson, Co-Senior Director, MomsRising New Hampshire said “it’s clear to us that this bill was an on-ramp for book bans, the same way we know what’s happening when our kids shove their mess under the bed. After three years of similar bills, we’re hoping the third time’s the charm. Moms aren’t asking for book bans. We’re asking for real solutions to real issues like child care, housing, school funding, the cost of living, and more.”
Both Megan Tuttle, President, NEA-New Hampshire and Deb Howes, President of American Federation of Teachers as educators, say they will never stop working to ensure that every New Hampshire student has access to the books, materials, and support they need to spark a lifelong love of reading and that students deserve access to a broad range of ideas, and educators should be trusted to use their professional judgment to choose materials, and to help students think critically and learn about the world around them.
TRIAL PETITIONS
Supporters of House Bill 1422 said the bill would have provided a narrow exception to the three-year deadline, allowing wrongfully convicted people to petition for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, new forensic testing, or new scientific understanding of the evidence in their cases.
The governor vetoed it and explained her action.
“As a murder prosecutor and former Attorney General, I understand the need to pursue and deliver justice. We do not need to create a novel approach to allow defendants to seek a new trial. Those seeking a new trial already have a statutory pathway to seek a new trial as well as the ability to file a writ of habeas corpus or a writ of coram nobis, options that are well established in New Hampshire case law. For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1422.”
Cynthia Mosseau, staff attorney at the New England Innocence Project, said that by her veto the governor just ensured that innocent people will remain behind bars in New Hampshire.
“Her veto of HB 1422 is not only callous — ignoring the many times new evidence of innocence arises that proves prior convictions to be erroneous — but it is also based on faulty reasoning, putting public safety at risk and upholding wrongful convictions,” Mosseau wrote.
She urged the legislature to override her veto on veto day.
“As a result of her action, New Hampshire’s strict and arbitrary three-year limit to file new trial motions will continue to stand – preventing wrongfully convicted Granite Staters from seeking justice – and keeping them behind bars with no recourse.” she added.
The Governor’s veto statement for HB 1337 is below.
OTHER VETOES
The governor said “no” to a number of other bills including one related to autistic individuals, a study committee for Education Freedom Accounts, one related to pet breeders and another related to school districts.
On House Bill 1337 she wrote, “The New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders remains an active group providing valuable feedback to the Department of Motor Vehicles from parents, service providers, and advocates about issues affecting individuals with autism spectrum disorder. As it is a volunteer board, it is done at little to no cost to taxpayers. The Department of Motor Vehicles appreciates the feedback and work it has done and continues to do with this Council.”
On HB 1358, she wrote “….While I fully support education freedom allowing every child to be in the learning environment best for them, including innovative public charter schools, I cannot envision a future that does not include public schools. Therefore, I believe this study committee is unnecessary.”
For HB 1610, Ayotte said “Unfortunately, this bill goes into effect immediately and as a result, will disrupt the will of voters in 95 school districts in New Hampshire who have already decided under current law how to utilize their year-end unassigned funds. For this reason, I have vetoed House Bill 1610.”
For SB 535 she wrote it “weakens existing law by creating a new category of residential breeder and exempts these breeders from any meaningful oversight and regulation.”
BILLS THAT WERE SIGNED:
Megan Tuttle of NEA-NH was disappointed that Ayotte signed Senate Bill 430, relative to mandatory disclosure by school district employees to parents and legal guardians.
“Education is so much more than a job, it’s a calling,” said Tuttle. “As educators, we strive to connect with each student to discover their passions and potential. As educators, we also strive to communicate and collaborate with caregivers and families to support students. However, SB 430 is vaguely written and risks putting educators in a position of outing a student.
“NEA-New Hampshire is deeply disappointed SB 430 has been signed into law; we remain committed to ensuring every student has a school where they feel safe, seen, and free to be themselves.”
OTHER BILLS SIGNED
HB 131 — Relative to bullying and cyberbullying prevention.
HB 164 — Relative to local records retention.
HB 1021 — Amending the date to provide written notice to a municipality of a taxpayer’s election to be assessed under the low-income housing tax credit program.
HB 1031 — Enabling candidates for state office to use campaign funds to pay for security measures.
HB 1040 — Establishing a committee to study the laws and procedures governing the filing and registering of quitclaim deeds in the state.
HB 1079 — Allowing accessory dwelling units to be built within or attached to certain non-conforming structures.
HB 1095 — Relative to the maximum weight of utility terrain vehicles.
HB 1103 — Allowing municipalities to utilize community revitalization tax relief credits on a wider variety of properties and structures.
HB 1112 — Relative to snow removal responsibilities in lease agreements.
HB 1115 — Expanding the number of persons eligible for the New Hampshire medal of honor.
HB 1127 — Relative to the uniform voidable transactions act.
HB 1193 — Naming a 911 call service center in Laconia in honor of Bruce G. Cheney.
HB 1195 — Relative to municipal zoning requirements for child day care providers.
HB 1197 — Making technical corrections to certain insurance laws.
HB 1236 — Relative to the use of body-worn cameras in county departments of corrections.
HB 1245 — Relative to voluntary portable benefits plans for independent contractors.
HB 1252 — Requiring the department of safety to only administer tests for commercial driver’s licenses in English and prohibiting the assistance of an interpreter during such tests.
HB 1262 — Relative to home heating oil and propane contracts and sales.
HB 1269 — Relative to qualifications to practice acupuncture.
HB 1328 — Relative to alcohol and other drug use professionals and relative to the qualifications to obtain certain occupational licenses.
HB 1332 — Relative to the authorized display of flags on state house grounds.
HB 1384 — Relative to prohibiting foreign adversary persons or foreign entities of concern from financing lawsuits, prohibiting foreign principals from registering as lobbyists, and requires certain disclosures for persons acting on behalf of foreign principals.
HB 1433 — Creating a child care tax credit for qualifying businesses.
HB 1502 — Governing special bank and credit union deposits.
HB 1511 — Relative to the membership of the agriculture in the classroom committee, the annual proclamation of “New Hampshire Day at the Big E,” and repealing the repeal of the produce safety chapter.
HB 1522 — Relative to amending and adding definitions related to the protection of persons from domestic violence and relative to the domestic violence fatality review committee.
HB 1555 — Relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.
HB 1563 — Relative to the special education aid formula and the administration and monitoring of state special education aid.
HB 1576 — Relative to the enforcement of criminal restitution obligations.
HB 1577 — Relative to the disclosure of utility customer data to municipalities for emergency response planning.
HB 1594 — Establishing a weight-based tiered registration fee schedule for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
HB 1603 — Requiring the executive director of the department of fish and game to adopt rules relative to procedures for verifying accuracy of records collected relative to threatened and endangered wildlife and ensuring landowner permission is granted for the gathering of such record.
HB 1637 — Relative to the scheduling of hearings on certain motions to modify or revoke bail.
HB 1651 — Establishing sexual assault orders of protection and relative to sexual assault survivors’ rights.
HB 1705 — Establishing an employee assistance program for small town and volunteer first responders.
HB 1756 — Allowing organizations to file for property tax exemptions once and receive those exemptions unless and until a town assessor finds the organization ineligible for an exemption.
HB 1765 — Enabling wine and beverage manufacturers to offer tastings of and sell products of certain New Hampshire wine and beverage manufacturers and relative to defacing of controlled products.
HB 1774 — Relative to qualifying scholarship granting organizations and federal workforce Pell grants.
SB 223 — Relative valid photo identification for purposes of obtaining a ballot and relative to the production of lists of certain schools of higher education.
SB 408 — Relative to health insurance coverage for prosthetics.
SB 415 — Relative to a certain exemption in interest in condominium units and abbreviated registrations.
SB 418 — Prohibiting municipalities from requiring licenses, restrictions, or exclusions for the production and sale of homestead food products.
SB 423 — Reestablishing the commission to study the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders.
SB 438 — Relative to access to the centralized voter registration database on election days.
SB 440 — Relative to the adoption of energy efficient and clean energy districts by municipalities.
SB 442 — Relative to pet transfers.
SB 448 — Modifying the definition of veteran.
SB 453 — Authorizing advanced practice registered nurses and physician associates to make certain certifications.
SB 486 — Relative to the administrative procedure act.
SB 490 — Establishing a task force to assess the development of housing at Great Bay Community College and authorizing the college the right to use vacant property for the purpose of developing housing.
SB 491 — Enabling students to utilize education freedom account funds to pay for certain career and technical education funding and removing references to “curriculum frameworks” as they relate to the substantive educational content of an adequate education.
SB 492 — Authorizing the department of military affairs and veterans services to license and lease property in which the department holds a property interest.
SB 523 — Establishing a committee to study the implementation of a residential builder registration system.
SB 524 — Relative to the sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, devices, e-liquids, or alternative nicotine products and relative to the licensure and sale of certain liquor products.
SB 530 — Relative to fetal death reporting to the Centers for Disease Control.
SB 531 — Establishing a task force to study the feasibility of the creation of cosmetology related programming in Coos County and requiring the reporting of student meal debt by school districts and public chartered schools to the department of education.
SB 540 — Relative to plug-in solar generation systems.
SB 544 — Relative to managed care laws.
SB 550 — Relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.
SB 562 — Relative to a home damage mitigation and resiliency program.
SB 569 — Relative to the qualifications for hearings officers within the department of labor.
SB 573 — Establishing certification standards for certified public safety comfort dogs.
SB 574 — Establishing a commission to study the efficiency and structure of school administrative units.
SB 575 — Establishing a committee to study the issue of school bullying and modifying both the exemption of teacher certification records from the right-to-know law and the assignment of superintendent services for school administrative units.
SB 577 — Prohibiting the use and recommending avoidance of specific color additives in meals offered or made available by public schools as a part of school breakfast and lunch meal programs.
SB 585 — Relative to audits for communications districts.
SB 586 — Requiring chartered public schools, school administrative units, and cities or school districts not audited under RSA 671:5 to be audited by an independent public accountant after the end of the fiscal year and requiring the results of such audits to be made available to the public.
SB 614 — Establishing multiple-caregiver self-insured risk coverage arrangements for nonprofit and for-profit providers and servicers.
SB 617 — Relative to the regulation and appeal of motor vehicle towing from public highways and relative to the removal of abandoned vehicles by law enforcement.
SB 624 — Restricting access to certain hemp-derived products and establishing the offenses of criminal adulteration and distribution of adulterated controlled substances.
SB 663 — Creating a Medicaid methodology working group within the department of health and human services.
SB 667 — Relative to the assault of emergency room personnel.
SB 670 — Establishing a developmental services oversight commission; relative to reporting requirements regarding the death of a child in residential care; and relative to the registry of founded reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults.