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HB 1285 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
11Mar2026... 1009h
2026 SESSION
26-2867
08/06
HOUSE BILL
1285
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study if New Hampshire may implement an R-PACER program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Muns, Rock. 29; Rep. Balboni, Rock. 38; Rep. Bridle, Rock. 29; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. de Vries, Rock. 29; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 29; Rep. Knab, Rock. 12; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30
COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study if New Hampshire may implement an R-PACER program.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 1009h 26-2867
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
establishing a commission to study if New Hampshire may implement an R-PACER program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Energy Efficient and Clean Energy Districts; R-Pacer Commission. Amend RSA 53-F by inserting after section 8 the following new subdivision:
Energy Efficient and Clean Energy Districts; R-Pacer Commission
53-F:9 R-Pacer Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study if New Hampshire may implement an R-PACER program.
II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(c) The executive director of the New Hampshire business finance authority or designee.
(d) The executive director/CEO of the New Hampshire housing finance authority or designee.
(e) The commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs, or designee.
(f) The executive director of the New Hampshire community development finance authority, or designee.
III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
IV. The commission shall:
(a) Study the costs and benefits to the citizens of New Hampshire of implementing a Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy or Resiliency (“R-PACER”) program.
(b) Review and assess “lessons learned” to date from the C-PACER program established under RSA 53-F:1 and recommend any changes to how that program is administered.
(c) Review the experience of other states that have already implemented R-PACER programs or have passed legislation to do so in the near future, specifically with respect to the following:
(1) The definition of eligible “qualifying improvements."
(2) Recommended disclosures to and protections for consumers including but not limited to know-before-you-owe disclosures, live confirmation of terms, enhanced senior care, right of cancellation, and other protocols.
(3) Review and assessment of R-PACER lenders.
(4) Underwriting criteria.
(5) Contractor oversight.
(6) Financial disclosures from consumers, contractors, and lenders.
(7) Regulatory structure.
(d) Recommend whether an R-PACER program should be implemented in New Hampshire.
(e) Identify which state agency should be the administrator of such a program in New Hampshire; recognizing that the challenges of interfacing with residential property owners may be different that interfacing with commercial property owners.
(f) Identify what statutory authority the recommended administrator of the R-PACER program will need to effectively administer the program with the goal of introducing such legislation no later than the fall of 2027.
(g) Identify what additional resources the recommended administrator of the R-PACER program will need to effectively administer the program.
(h) Propose a recommended implementation timeline.
(i) Consult with other stakeholders it deems necessary or appropriate to do so; such as the New Hampshire Municipal Association, the New Hampshire Banking Association, other New Hampshire state agencies as needed, and members of the governing house and senate standing committees.
V. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 30 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before October 15, 2026.
2 Repeal. RSA 53-F:9, relative to the R-Pacer commission, is repealed.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect October 15, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.