New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 7 R · 2 D cosponsors

SB 644 — requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.

Last action — Signed by the Governor on 06/12/2026; Chapter 145; Effective 08/11/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 25, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on June 22, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill requires background checks for owners of certain waste facilities.

This legislation mandates background checks for owners of solid waste and hazardous waste facilities. It aims to ensure that individuals managing these facilities meet certain standards.

Summary

requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

247 added · 255 removed

Plain-language change summary

The final version of Bill SB 644 now requires background checks for owners, partners, and managers of solid waste and hazardous waste facilities. This change ensures that these individuals undergo thorough criminal records checks, both on a state and national level, to evaluate their suitability for operating such facilities. This addition is important as it enhances public safety and environmental protection by helping to prevent individuals with potentially harmful histories from running these operations.

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Previous
Latest
SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES SESSION 26-2095 08/09 SENATE BILL 644-FN AN ACT requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION SESSION 26-2095 08/09 SENATE BILL 644-FN AN ACT requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
Energy and Natural Resources ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill requires background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners including partners and managers.
Energy and Natural Resources ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill requires background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners, including partners and managers.
SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 26-2095 08/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION 26-2095 08/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
1 Background Checks.
145:1 Background Checks.
(D) “Partner” means one of 2 or more persons carrying on as co-owners of a business for profit."Partner" includes, but is not limited to, a limited or general partner of a partnership, professional association, or foreign partnership or such partners as set forth in title XXVIII.
(D) “Partner” means one of 2 or more persons carrying on as co-owners of a business for profit.
"Partner" includes, but is not limited to, a limited or general partner of a partnership, professional association, or foreign partnership or such partners as set forth in title XXVIII.
SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - (F) "Manager” means a person who is named or designated as a manager of a limited liability company in an operating agreement.
(F) "Manager” means a person who is named or designated as a manager of a limited liability company in an operating agreement.
"Manager" includes each manager of a limited liability company, foreign limited liability company, or professional limited liability company as set forth in RSA 304-C and RSA 304-D.
"Manager" includes each manager of a limited CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - liability company, foreign limited liability company, or professional limited liability company as set forth in RSA 304-C and RSA 304-D.
(6) The department shall submit the criminal records release authorization forms and fingerprint forms to the department of safety, division of state police, which shall conduct a SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 3 - criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(6) The department shall submit the criminal records release authorization forms and fingerprint forms to the department of safety, division of state police, which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(7) The department may bill the applicant for any costs or fees associated with the performance history review and the criminal records check, including, but not limited to, any fee charged by the department of safety or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the criminal records checks set forth in this paragraph.The department shall destroy all criminal history record information within 60 days after the department’s decision on the application or upon the conclusion of any appeal of the department’s decision, whichever is later.
CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 3 - (7) The department may bill the applicant for any costs or fees associated with the performance history review and the criminal records check, including, but not limited to, any fee charged by the department of safety or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the criminal records checks set forth in this paragraph.
The department shall destroy all criminal history record information within 60 days after the department’s decision on the application or upon the conclusion of any appeal of the department’s decision, whichever is later.
(a) The person fails to demonstrate sufficient reliability, expertise, integrity and competence to operate a hazardous waste facility.
(a) The person fails to demonstrate sufficient reliability, expertise, integrity, and competence to operate a hazardous waste facility.
2 Permit Applicants;
145:2 Permit Applicants;
The cost of any investigation under this paragraph shall be borne by the applicant.] The department shall hold a public hearing no later than 30 days SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 4 - prior to making any final decision on an application to transfer a permit issued under this section.
The cost of any investigation under this paragraph shall be borne by the applicant.] The department shall hold a public hearing no later than 30 days prior to making any final decision on an application to transfer a permit issued under this section.
3 Disclosure of Ownership.
145:3 Disclosure of Ownership.
and if the applicant is any other kind of association, the state of formation, the address of its principal place of business, and the names and addresses of its partners, members, managers, or participants.
and if the applicant is any other kind of CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 4 - association, the state of formation, the address of its principal place of business, and the names and addresses of its partners, members, managers, or participants.
4 Background Checks.
145:4 Background Checks.
(D) “Partner” means one of 2 or more persons carrying on as co-owners of a business for profit."Partner" includes, but is not limited to, a limited or general partner of a SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 5 - partnership, professional association, or foreign partnership or such partners as set forth in title XXVIII.
(D) “Partner” means one of 2 or more persons carrying on as co-owners of a business for profit.
"Partner" includes, but is not limited to, a limited or general partner of a partnership, professional association, or foreign partnership or such partners as set forth in title XXVIII.
(A) The applicant.
CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 5 - (A) The applicant.
SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 6 - (5) All persons set forth in subparagraph (b)(3) shall submit to the department, along with their criminal record release authorization form required in subparagraph (b)(4), a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or authorized employee of the department of safety.
(5) All persons set forth in subparagraph (b)(3) shall submit to the department, along with their criminal record release authorization form required in subparagraph (b)(4), a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or authorized employee of the department of safety.
Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the assistant director of the department of environmental services waste management division and the administrator of the department of environmental services, solid waste management bureau.
Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the assistant director of the department of environmental services waste management division and the administrator of the department of environmental services, solid waste management burThe.
The department shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history record information received pursuant to this section.
department shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history record information received pursuant to this section.
The department shall destroy all criminal history record information within 60 days after the department’s decision on the application or upon the conclusion of any appeal of the department’s decision, whichever is later.
The department shall destroy all criminal history record information within 60 days after CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 6 - the department’s decision on the application or upon the conclusion of any appeal of the department’s decision, whichever is later.
5 Denial of Application.
145:5 Denial of Application.
[(c) In the case of a corporation or business entity, if any of its officers, directors, partners, key employees or persons or business entities holding 10 percent or more of its equity or debt liability has been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony in any state or federal court during the 5 years before the date of the permit application.] 6 Applications;
[(c) In the case of a corporation or business entity, if any of its officers, directors, partners, key employees or persons or business entities holding 10 percent or more of its equity or debt liability has been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony in any state or federal court during the 5 years before the date of the permit application.] 145:6 Applications;
Whenever requested by the department, the attorney general shall conduct a background SB 644-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 7 - investigation of the performance history and criminal record of the applicant and of its officers and directors, partners, and individuals or entities having managerial, supervisory, or substantial decision-making authority and responsibility for the management of operations or activities for which a permit is being sought, if any, and make a report to the department.
Whenever requested by the department, the attorney general shall conduct a background investigation of the performance history and criminal record of the applicant and of its officers and directors, partners, and individuals or entities having managerial, supervisory, or substantial decision-making authority and responsibility for the management of operations or activities for which a permit is being sought, if any, and make a report to the department.
The criminal background check shall consist of and follow the same procedures set forth in paragraph III.] The applicant shall also submit a statement that the proposed facility is consistent with the provisions of a district plan.
The criminal background check shall consist of and follow the same procedures set forth in paragraTheIII.] applicant shall also submit a statement that the proposed facility is consistent with the provisions of a district plan.
[The cost of any investigation under this paragraph shall be borne by the applicant.] 7 Disclosure of Ownership.
[The cost of any investigation under this paragraph shall be borne by the applicant.] 145:7 Disclosure of Ownership.
8 Effective Date.
CHAPTER 145 SB 644-FN - FINAL VERSION - Page 7 - 145:8 Effective Date.
LBA 26-2095 11/17/25 SB 644-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACT requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
Approved:
FISCAL IMPACT:
June 12, 2026 Effective Date:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
August 11, 2026
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services
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How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

Compared against the N.H. Revised Statutes Annotated as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes new requirements for background checks for permit applicants operating solid waste and hazardous waste facilities and updates existing provisions regarding performance history and ownership disclosure.

  • RSA 147-A:4, II-c

    [b](b) The applicant and all persons and entities set forth in subparagraph (b)(2) seeking a permit under this chapter shall be subject to a criminal records check consisting of a New Hampshire criminal records check and a fingerprint-based criminal record check utilizing national crime information databases, as set forth in subparagraphs (b)(3) through (b)(6). → The applicant and all persons and entities set forth in subparagraph (b)(2) seeking a permit under this chapter shall be subject to a criminal records check consisting of a New Hampshire criminal records check and a fingerprint-based criminal record check utilizing national crime information databases, as set forth in subparagraphs (b)(3) through (b)(6).

    The requirement for criminal record checks is clarified and detailed.

  • RSA 147-A:4, II-d

    The department may deny a permit application under this section to a person if any of the following applies: (a) The person fails to demonstrate sufficient reliability, expertise, integrity, and competence to operate a hazardous waste facility. (b) The person or any person set forth in RSA 147-A:4, II-c(b)(3) has been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, a felony in any state or federal court during the 5 years before the date of the permit application.

    New criteria for denying permit applications based on reliability and felony convictions are established.

  • RSA 147-A:4-b, II

    the names and addresses of its owners, directors, and officers[, and shareholders] → the names and addresses of its owners, directors, and officers

    The requirement to disclose shareholder information in permit applications is removed.

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor on 06/12/2026; Chapter 145; Effective 08/11/2026

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14

  4. Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12

  5. Committee Report: Ought to Pass 04/28/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 18 P. 7

  6. Full Committee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 153

  7. Full Committee Work Session: 04/14/2026 01:30 pm GP 153

  8. Full Committee Work Session: 04/07/2026 01:00 pm GP 153

  9. Public Hearing: 03/31/2026 11:00 am GP 153

  10. Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 5 P. 127

  11. Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2

  12. Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 3

  13. Hearing: 01/20/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 1

  14. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 405 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (405)

405 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 405 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 644 do?
requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners.
Who sponsors SB 644?
SB 644 is sponsored by Howard Pearl (Republican), Timothy Lang (Republican), Judy Aron (Republican), Bill Gannon (Republican), Ruth Ward (Republican), Michael Moffett (Republican), Kevin Avard (Republican), Peter W Bixby, David Watters (Democrat), and Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 644?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 25, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 644?
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