This bill aims to enhance lead paint poisoning prevention and remediation efforts by lowering the childhood blood lead action level from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. It mandates that all municipal building permit applications include the EPA-RRP license number for individuals involved in renovation, repair, or painting of buildings constructed before January 1, 1978. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to inspect all other units in a multi-unit dwelling if one unit is found to have a lead hazard. A new rebuttable presumption is established, stating that any housing built prior to 1978 is presumed to contain lead-based substances unless proven otherwise by a lead inspector.

The bill also modifies existing legal language, specifically amending RSA 130-A:5, I to reflect the new blood lead level threshold and changing the language in RSA 130-A:6, I to require inspections of all units in a multi-unit dwelling when a lead hazard is identified. The bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions but anticipates significant increases in workload for the Department of Health and Human Services, estimating the need for additional staff and resources to manage the expected rise in cases of lead exposure. The fiscal impact is projected to be approximately $740,000 in FY 2026, with subsequent years showing similar expenditures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 130-A:6