New Hampshire Senate advances two housing bills, approves firearm liability changes and pauses several health care measures

The New Hampshire Senate on May 20 moved several major bills forward and disposed of others after floor debate that focused on housing, liability for firearms manufacturers and rules for new health‑care delivery models.

Supporters and opponents clashed over two housing measures that backers say will increase housing supply by easing local restrictions. The chamber also approved committee amendments to a firearms liability bill aimed at narrowing some product‑liability claims against manufacturers, and it advanced a separate bill that would repeal the state license requirement for pistol and revolver sales. Lawmakers also voted to hold several health‑care proposals in committee as not ready for passage.

Why it matters: The housing measures, if enacted, would change local zoning outcomes in ways advocates say will speed conversions of vacant retail and office space into housing and expand options for lower‑cost manufactured homes. Proposals on firearm liability and licensing attracted attention for their potential effects on litigation and on gun‑related businesses in the state. Health‑care measures that were set aside raised questions about access and regulatory protections for patients and communities.

Housing: multifamily in commercial zones and manufactured homes

House Bill 6‑31, sponsored on the floor by Senator Steven Innes for the Commerce Committee, would require municipalities to permit multifamily residential development in commercially zoned areas while allowing communities to set infrastructure conditions and preserve limits such as industrial exclusions and ground‑floor retail requirements. In debate, proponents said the change would enable faster reuse of vacant retail and office buildings, improve walkability and restore mixed‑use patterns common to New England towns. Opponents described it as an unfunded mandate that would require small towns to hire consultants and revise master plans, imposing costs and potential legal exposure on municipalities.

After debate, the Senate’s Commerce Committee recommendation of "ought to pass" was adopted on second reading and the bill was ordered to third reading.

House Bill 6‑85, brought by the Commerce Committee and discussed at length on the floor, would update the statutory definition of manufactured housing and require municipalities to permit manufactured homes in residential zones. Opponents called it a sweeping, one‑size‑fits‑all override of local control and warned of infrastructure and planning impacts. Supporters said the change would expand affordable housing options and restore flexibility for property owners.

Senators adopted a floor amendment (2005) that clarified the bill’s treatment of modular homes and removed language that would have explicitly excluded them. After the amendment passed, the Senate adopted the committee recommendation of "ought to pass as amended" and ordered the bill to third reading.

Firearms: liability language and dealer licensing

House Bill 3‑81, considered by the Judiciary Committee, was amended on the floor to limit certain product‑liability claims against firearm manufacturers. Committee supporters said the amendment narrowed liability to manufacturing defects and would not shelter manufacturers from claims involving defective products, while protecting them from suits seeking to impose liability for optional design features not required by law.

The committee amendment was adopted by roll call (16 yes, 8 no). The Senate later adopted the bill as amended and subsequently the bill was laid on the table following a motion to table. Proponents argued the changes protect in‑state manufacturers and jobs; critics said the measure would improperly insulate manufacturers from accountability.

House Bill 5‑51, a separate Judiciary Committee bill, would repeal the state licensure requirement for the sale of pistols and revolvers. Committee members who supported the bill said federal licensure is sufficient and state licensing is duplicative. Opponents said repeal would be another step away from gun‑violence prevention measures. The Senate adopted the committee recommendation of "ought to pass" and ordered the bill to third reading.

Health care and direct‑pay facilities

Multiple health‑care bills seeking to exempt certain facilities or to allow membership‑based direct‑pay providers from parts of state licensing were the subject of lengthy floor discussion. Supporters of a narrow exemption for direct‑pay models argued they promote pricing transparency and competition; opponents and several committee majorities said the proposals were not ready for prime time and could create two‑tiered protections for patients.

The Senate’s committees recommended "inexpedient to legislate" (ITL) on bills including House Bill 2‑23 and House Bill 5‑48, and the Senate adopted the ITL motions, effectively holding those measures.

Votes at a glance

- HB 6‑31 (Commerce): Motion "House bill 6‑31 ought to pass" moved by Senator Steven Innes; committee recommended ought to pass (5‑1). Outcome: committee recommendation adopted on second reading; bill ordered to third reading (voice vote). Discussion included Senators Innes, Ricciardi, Murphy and others.

- HB 6‑85 (Commerce): Motion "House bill 6‑85 ought to pass" moved by Senator Mike Murphy for the committee; committee recommended ought to pass (5‑1). Floor amendment 2005 (to include modular homes) introduced by Senator Lang and adopted. Outcome: Senate adopted ought to pass as amended; bill ordered to third reading (voice votes on amendment and final motion).

- HB 3‑81 (Judiciary) — firearms manufacturer liability (committee amendment): Committee amendment adopted by roll call 16 yes, 8 no (yes: Rochefort; Lang; McConkie; Gray; Innes; Ward; Rochardi; Magu; Abarth; Murphy; Pearl; Sullivan; Birdsall; Addis; Gannon; Carson. No: Waters; Prentice; Fenton; Rosenwald; Reardon; Long; Perkins‑Quocca; Altschuler). The bill as amended was adopted and later laid on the table after a motion to table.

- HB 5‑51 (Judiciary) — repeal license to sell pistols/revolvers: Committee recommended ought to pass (3‑2). The Senate adopted the committee recommendation and ordered the bill to third reading; floor amendment 1907 (liability‑limiting language similar to HB 3‑81) was proposed and adopted previously in the session’s firearms discussion.

- HB 5‑48 (Health & Human Services) and HB 2‑23 (Health & Human Services): Both recommended inexpedient to legislate by their committees (votes reported in committee). The Senate adopted ITL motions on the floor; HB 2‑23 was laid on the table following a motion to table.

Other committee actions

Several bills listed on the consent calendar and other routine concurrence messages from the House were adopted on voice votes; the Senate also adopted fiscal‑note and enrolled‑bill reports during the session.

Who's who in floor debate

Speakers who took substantive roles in debate included Senate members Steven Innes (Commerce sponsor, HB 6‑31), Mike Murphy (Commerce sponsor, HB 6‑85), Chris Gannon (Judiciary sponsor/committee chair on firearms bills), Louie Reardon (Commerce/Judiciary debate), Paul Rochefort (questions on health care and other matters), and others who asked questions, offered amendments or spoke at length about local control and implementation costs.

What’s next

Bills ordered to third reading will return for a final floor vote on the full Senate. Several measures held with ITL recommendations may be revised outside of session or refiled during future legislative windows. The transcript shows continued division on the balance between state action to increase housing supply or protect local zoning authority, and on where to draw lines between business protections and consumer‑or public‑safety safeguards for firearms and health‑care innovations.

Ending note

The Senate’s actions leave multiple high‑profile bills in play: housing measures now head to third reading after contentious debate, firearms‑related bills were advanced with liability protections and further procedural action, and health‑care proposals were paused for further work or reintroduction. Continued attention and likely amendments are expected as the Legislature moves toward final passage votes.