CHAPTER 291

HB 1021 - FINAL VERSION

04/28/2022   1653s

26May2022... 2113EBA

2022 SESSION

22-2133

08/11

HOUSE BILL 1021

AN ACT prohibiting certain zoning regulation of land or structures used primarily for religious purposes.

SPONSORS: Rep. Wuelper, Straf. 3; Rep. Gould, Hills. 7; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 10

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits certain zoning ordinance or site plan review regulation of land or structures primarily used for religious purposes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

04/28/2022   1653s

26May2022... 2113EBA 22-2133

08/11

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT prohibiting certain zoning regulation of land or structures used primarily for religious purposes.

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

291:1  New Subdivision; Religious Use of Land and Structures.  Amend RSA 674 by inserting after section 75 the following new subdivision:

Religious Use of Land and Structures

674:76  Religious Use of Land and Structures.  No zoning ordinance or site plan review regulation shall prohibit, regulate, or restrict the use of land or structures primarily used for religious purposes; provided, however, that such land or structures may be subject to objective and definite regulations concerning the height of structures, yard sizes, lot area, setbacks, open space, and building coverage requirements as long as said requirements are applicable regardless of the religious or non-religious nature of the use of the property and do not substantially burden religious exercise.

291:2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: July 01, 2022

Effective Date: July 01, 2022