Community Associations Institute (CAI) New Hampshire Legislative Action Committee (NH LAC) spent the 2026 legislative session advocating on behalf of approximately 271,000 Granite Staters who live in 108,300 homes in nearly 3,000 community associations.
Legislative Overview
New Hampshire operates on a two-year legislative cycle. The 2026 regular session of the New Hampshire General Court, the second year of the legislative cycle, convened on January 7 and adjourned on June 4. Learn more about CAI’s advocacy work in New Hampshire during the first year of the legislative cycle (2025). Learn more about how laws are created in New Hampshire.
Priority Legislation
CAI Legislative Action Committees (LACs) support legislation that aligns with CAI’s public policy positions and opposes legislation that does not. If a LAC believes it may need to consider or adopt any legislative or regulatory position that would be in conflict with these official positions, it must submit a request for a deviation to be considered by CAI’s Government & Public Affairs Committee and/or Board of Trustees.
NH LAC supported this legislation, which aimed to clarify electric utility rate classification and cost allocation for condominium associations in New Hampshire. The bill would have allowed condominium associations to request that public utilities, rural electric cooperatives, or municipal electric utilities charge them the same rates as residential units for shared services like septic systems and well pumps. It also would have mandated that the cost of shared meter use for such systems be split equally among the residential units sharing the meter and specified that the condominium association would be responsible for verifying residential eligibility or compliance details.
Status: Bill died.
NH LAC supported this legislation, which would have explicitly allowed remote and hybrid meetings to be conducted by condominium associations in New Hampshire. Under this legislation, governing bodies of unit owner organizations would have been permitted to hold meetings by telephonic, video, or other interactive electronic means, with electronic participation counting toward quorum requirements. Electronic voting also would have been permitted so long as electronic communications enable simultaneous communication among participants. Additionally, the legislation would have established a requirement for all ballots and tally sheets to be available to homeowners in electronic formats for review. CAI supports legislation that allows a community association board and membership to hold meetings virtually. Rules and regulations applicable to virtual meetings vary from state to state and often are contingent on a community association’s articles of incorporation, charter, or bylaws depending on the state. Prior legislation passed into law in NH, now appearing at RSA 356-B:37-b, allows associations to participate in electronic meetings by providing for such in their Declaration or Bylaws.
Status: Bill died.
CAI MONITORED THE BELOW BILLS
CAI and its LACs monitor legislation with the potential to impact those living and working in community associations across their state, as well as legislation that may indirectly or unintentionally impact community associations.
HB 1732 – Relative to Housing Accessibility and Voucher Allocation in New Multi-Unit Developments
CAI monitored this legislation, which would have required new multi-unit housing developments with more than six units to designate at least 5% of units for tenants eligible for the federal Mainstream Housing Voucher program and design and construct at least 5% of units according to universal design standards to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. NH LAC thought the legislation could be improved by defining the term “multi-unit housing.”
Status: Bill died.
HB 1523 – Relative to Disclosure Requirements for Condominium Associations
CAI monitored this legislation, which addresses disclosure and transparency requirements for New Hampshire condominium and homeowners’ associations. Under this bill, associations must retain detailed records covering receipts, expenditures, meeting minutes, board and committee actions, member lists, organizing documents, recent financial statements, and other key documents. Association members or their authorized agents may inspect and copy these records within reasonable business hours, provided they give 15 days’ notice. Associations may charge only reasonable fees for copies, capped at the same rate as government record requests. Some records—such as those involving personnel matters, legal proceedings, or privileged attorney communications—can be withheld. As initially drafted the bill imposed more stringent requirements on HOAs than currently exists for condominiums in New Hampshire. The LAC requested legislators correct this discrepancy.
Status: Approved. Effective January 1, 2027.
HB 1136 – Relative to Accessory Dwelling Units
CAI monitored this legislation, which would have allowed municipalities to authorize accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right, conditional use permit, or special exception and permits them to allow more than one ADU per single-family dwelling. The bill states that subsequent condominium conveyance of any ADU separate from that of the principal dwelling unit shall be prohibited. While this legislation would have impacted rulemaking at the municipality level and not overridden private restrictive covenants, NH LAC monitored it for potential impacts on a community association’s ability to establish reasonable rules and regulations regarding ADUs within an association.
CAI’s public policy on accessory dwelling units expresses support for legislation that recognizes the core principle of self-governance and equitable sharing of common property and the expenses necessary to operate the community association housing model, while simultaneously permitting, but not mandating, that affordable housing be constructed on single family lots. As each residential common interest community is unique, legislation like HB 1136 should recognize the need for a particular community association to develop reasonable rules and regulations for accessory dwelling units consistent with that community’s unique design, development, and operation.
Status: Bill died.
CAI monitored this legislation, which expands the exemption for condominium projects from those with 10 or fewer units to those with 25 or fewer units, except for time-sharing interests. It also repeals the abbreviated condominium registration process and establishes a commission to study and recommend updates to New Hampshire’s condominium statutes, including registration procedures, administrative burdens, and market needs. The original version of this bill would have allowed the lesser regulations for projects of 50 or fewer units. NH LAC spoke against this, opining that a 50-unit community is too large to be built in accord with lesser oversight. Ultimately, the bill passed with an upper threshold of 25 units.
Status: Approved. Section 7 Effective 11/01/2027. Remainder Effective 07/02/2026.
Get Involved in CAI’s Advocacy Work Through Your Local Chapter!
CAI’s New England Chapter provides information, resources, education programs and best practices designed to help you and your communities across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont thrive. Incorporated in 1979, the New England Chapter has more than 1,800 members.
Not a member yet? Join a growing global network of more than 51,000 community managers, management company executives, homeowner leaders, and business partners, and open up a world of opportunities for professional growth, networking and industry knowledge.
Learn more and join today at http://www.caine.org/
| Track NH Legislation
CAI tracks legislation throughout the year, so you can stay informed. You can check the legislation that CAI is monitoring around the clock here. |
Legislative Resources & Chapter Contact Information
CAI New Hampshire Legislative Resources Chapter Executive Director: Ms. Claudette Carini (781) 237-9020 (13) OR (781)237-9020 (13) |
| Support and Donate Today
CAI depends on professional lobbyists funded by community associations, businesses, and individuals to create the best public policy for the community association industry in New Hampshire. Learn More & Donate Today by Selecting “New Hampshire.” |
|
| CAI’s 2026 Congressional Advocacy Summit on Sept. 24 in Washington D.C.
This exclusive members-only event brings together industry leaders and advocates to engage directly with members of Congress and their staff. As the premier advocacy event of the year for the community association housing model, CAI’s Advocacy Summit offers a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with federal lawmakers and help shape public policy impacting the industry. |
|
