(New Title) allowing the director of the division of motor vehicles to adopt administrative rules regarding the use of electronic signatures and relative to signature requirements where ownership of a vehicle is transferred to an insurer after payment of damages.

CHAPTER 63
SB 469 - FINAL VERSION

01/29/2026 0097s
2026 SESSION
26-2016
09/08

SENATE BILL
469

AN ACT
allowing the director of the division of motor vehicles to adopt administrative rules regarding the use of electronic signatures and relative to signature requirements where ownership of a vehicle is transferred to an insurer after payment of damages.

SPONSORS: Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. S. Smith, Sull. 3; Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Authorizes the director of the division of motor vehicles to adopt rules regarding records, documents, applications, and forms that can be signed electronically, and requires electronic signatures to be accepted on such forms.

II. Allows supporting documents used to transfer ownership of a vehicle to an insurer after payment of damages to not require a notarized signature and allows the signatures to be signed electronically and printed on hard copy.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01/29/2026 0097s 26-2016
09/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
allowing the director of the division of motor vehicles to adopt administrative rules regarding the use of electronic signatures and relative to signature requirements where ownership of a vehicle is transferred to an insurer after payment of damages.

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

63:1 Short Title. This bill may be known as and cited to as the "DMV e-Signature Act."

63:2 New Section; Words and Phrases Defined; Signature. Amend RSA 259 by inserting after section 100-a the following new section:
259:100-aa Signature. “Signature” means a written signature, or an electronic signature as defined in RSA 294-E:2 and when authorized by the director.

63:3 Administration of Motor Vehicle Laws; Rulemaking Authority. Amend RSA 260:5 to read as follows:
260:5 Rulemaking Authority. All rulemaking authority expressly granted under the provisions of this title to the department or any of its administrators, officials, divisions or bureaus, or to any agency as defined in RSA 541-A:1, II, shall be subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A.
The director shall accept electronic signatures as defined in RSA 294-E:2, VIII, on such records, documents, applications, or forms as the director may prescribe, by rule, pursuant to RSA 541-A.
Whenever, under the provisions of this title, the department or any of its administrators, officials, divisions or bureaus, or any other agency, has been granted authority to prescribe or otherwise require forms, reports or other matter included in the definition of rule in RSA 541-A:1, XV, such authority shall be construed as rulemaking authority and shall be subject to RSA 541-A. Provided, however, that under the provisions of this title wherever any administrator, official, division or bureau in the department has been granted the authority to adopt rules, either expressly or as stated above, such authority shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner. Unless otherwise specified in this title, appeals from any order or decision of the director, commissioner, division, department or other agency acting under the provisions of this title shall be pursued as provided in RSA 541.

63:4 Destruction of Vehicles; Total Loss, Salvage, and Rebuilt Vehicles. Amend RSA 261:22, II-b to read as follows:
II-b.
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, supporting documents used to transfer ownership of a vehicle to an insurer after payment of damages do not require a notarized signature, may be signed electronically, and may be printed on hard copy. For purposes of this paragraph, supporting documents include but are not limited to limited power of attorney, duplicate title, and odometer statement forms.

II-c.
An applicant under RSA 261:22, II-a
and II-b
shall indemnify and hold harmless the department from any liability arising from an error or misrepresentation made by such applicant in a submission to the department pursuant to RSA 261:22, II-a
and II-b
.

63:5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: May 08, 2026
Effective Date: July 07, 2026