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HB1211 • 2026

relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Jim Kofalt (R), Erica Layon (R), Daniel Innis (R), Michael Granger (R), Joe Alexander (R), Keith Murphy (R), Jeremy Slottje (R), Matt Sabourin dit Choinière (R), Victoria Sullivan (R), Aidan Ankarberg (I)
Last action
2026-05-05
Official status
SENATE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

What This Bill Does

  • relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment #2026-0906h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 40

Plain English: Amendment #2026-0906h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 40 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-05 S

    Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

  2. 2026-04-29 S

    Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 17

  3. 2026-03-25 S

    Hearing: 04/01/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 12

  4. 2026-03-17 S

    Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7

  5. 2026-03-11 H

    Amendment #2026-0906h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 40

  6. 2026-03-11 H

    Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0906h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 40

  7. 2026-03-04 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0906h 03/03/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 10 P. 19

  8. 2026-02-27 H

    Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 159

  9. 2026-02-12 H

    Full Committee Work Session: 02/18/2026 10:00 am GP231

  10. 2026-01-22 H

    Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 02:15 pm GP 231

  11. 2025-12-01 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 10

Official Summary Text

relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1211 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2026... 0906h
2026 SESSION
26-2859
09/06

HOUSE BILL
1211

AN ACT
relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

SPONSORS: Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Slottje, Hills. 13; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill states that in actions brought by or against state agencies, after applying all customary tools of interpretation, the court or hearing officer shall resolve any remaining doubt as to legal meaning in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes liberty for the individuals impacted by restrictions, fees, fines, or civil or criminal action as a result of the state statute, regulation, or other subregulatory agency document.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0906h 26-2859
09/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
relative to the scope of review of state agency interpretations.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Standards for Review. Amend RSA 541-A by inserting after section 24 the following new section:
541-A:24-a Standards for Review.
I. In interpreting a state statute, regulation, or other subregulatory agency document, a state court or an officer hearing an administration action shall not defer to a state agency's interpretation of the statute, regulation, or subregulatory document and shall instead interpret its meaning and effect de novo.
II. In actions brought by or against state agencies, after applying all customary tools of interpretation, the court or hearing officer shall resolve any remaining doubt as to legal meaning in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes liberty for the individuals impacted by restrictions, fees, fines, or civil or criminal action as a result of the state statute, regulation, or other subregulatory agency document.

2 New Section; Statutory Construction. Amend RSA 21 by inserting after section 55 the following new section:
21:56 Presumption of Liberty in Administrative Law. Consistent with RSA 541-A:24-a, in actions brought by or against state agencies, after applying all customary tools of interpretation, a court or hearing officer shall resolve any remaining doubt as to legal meaning in favor of a reasonable interpretation that limits agency power and maximizes liberty for the individuals impacted by restrictions, fees, fines, or civil or criminal action as a result of the state statute, regulation or other subregulatory agency document.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.