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Accessory‑dwelling amendment draws compromise language; committee delays final action
Summary
Senators discussed an amendment to House Bill 577 (ADUs) that would add definitions for attached vs. physically connected units, include manufactured housing by RSA citation, allow municipal parking and aesthetic standards and set minimum and maximum unit sizes; committee postponed action to next week for further review.
The Commerce Committee considered an amendment to House Bill 577, a measure addressing accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Senator Fenton spoke at length about amendment 1462 — a compromise intended to make the ADU bill more palatable to smaller towns while preserving the bill’s goals.
Senator Fenton said the amendment restores existing statutory language and adds clarity, including: a new term for “physically connected” versus attached units; adding manufactured housing as defined in RSA 674:31; replacing a potentially confusing cross‑reference so local municipal ordinances — rather than a generic statute phrase — control certain requirements; and allowing municipalities to require adequate parking consistent with single‑family requirements. He described the amendment as a “happy compromise” that “maybe nobody gets fully what they want, but everyone’s getting something.”
Senators pressed over size limits stated in the amendment — a minimum no smaller than 750 square feet and a maximum not to exceed 950 square feet for the ADU in certain clauses — and sought clarity about how minimum and maximum sizes should be reconciled; Senator Reardon opposed the amendment for reasons given privately, and other committee members expressed mixed views. The sponsor and amendment proponents noted the intent to give municipalities until July 1, 2026, to implement any required local ordinance changes.
The committee decided to postpone final action and return to the ADU bill next week. Senator McHugh and others asked for additional time so members could continue discussions and circulate copies of the amendment; the chair directed staff to include the item on next week's agenda.
Ending: Senators agreed to push House Bill 577 to a future meeting to allow for additional behind‑the‑scenes negotiation and to circulate the amendment text to all members; no final vote was taken at the meeting.
