The bill SB 502-FN proposes significant amendments to New Hampshire's planning and community development laws by replacing references to the "department of business and economic affairs" and the "office of planning and development" with the newly established division of planning and community development. This division is tasked with coordinating economic development policies and delineating planning regions for municipalities, thereby enhancing collaboration between state agencies and local governments. The bill mandates that regional planning commissions update their comprehensive development plans every five years and distribute these plans to local libraries, planning boards, and municipal councils, as well as to the new division, which will also provide comments on the consistency of regional plans with the state plan. Additionally, the bill modifies the New Hampshire Community Development Advisory Committee by increasing the number of public members from six to seven, with a requirement that at least four be municipal officials. It also outlines new collaborative responsibilities for the department of business and economic affairs in housing projects and allows for electronic participation in meetings for certain committees. Furthermore, the bill repeals RSA 187-A:31 and RSA 187-A:33-b, which pertain to the now-defunct NH Innovation Research Center, reflecting the cessation of funding for the center since 2021. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 4-F:1, 12-O:2, 36:45, 36:46, 36:47, 162-L:15, 216-A:3-, 481:3, 483:10, 483-B:5, 483-B:12
As Amended by the Senate: 4-F:1, 12-O:2, 36:45, 36:46, 36:47, 162-L:15, 216-A:3-, 481:3, 483:10, 483-B:5, 483-B:12, 100-A:14-b, 151-J:2, 273:11-b, 277:1-a
Version adopted by both bodies: 4-F:1, 12-O:2, 36:45, 36:46, 36:47, 162-L:15, 216-A:3-, 481:3, 483:10, 483-B:5, 483-B:12, 100-A:14-b, 151-J:2, 273:11-b, 277:1-a
SB502 text: 4-F:1, 12-O:2, 12-P:3, 36:45, 36:46, 36:47, 162-L:15, 204-C:8, 216-A:3-c, 481:3, 483:10, 483-B:5, 483-B:12