Relative to real property annual reporting requirements of state departments for permitting programs.
SB 74 requires state departments that administer permitting programs affecting real property, or the construction or operation of stationary structures, infrastructure, or facilities on real property, to file an annual written report with legislative leaders and the chairs of the relevant executive departments and administration committees. Beginning February 28, 2026, and each year thereafter, the report must cover the prior calendar year’s permitting activity and identify each permitting program and permit category administered by the department.
For each permit category, the bill requires departments to report the number of applications received, granted, and denied; the number pending as of January 1; and, for applications pending more than 90 days, detailed timing information including incompleteness notices, requests for additional information, applicant responses, extensions, hearing dates, and final decision dates. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.
The bill does not change permitting standards or create new permit authority, but it adds a statewide reporting mandate to RSA 20 for departments that regulate real property-related permitting. Affected agencies would need to collect, organize, and submit detailed annual data on permit processing timelines and outcomes, which could require new administrative procedures, software changes, or additional staff depending on the department. The fiscal note indicates potential costs to the General Fund and Highway Fund, with the Department of Environmental Services and Department of Transportation identified as the most likely to incur significant expenses.
The available materials suggest generally favorable or oversight-oriented sentiment toward the bill, with no recorded votes or committee transcript opposition in the provided context. The measure appears aimed at increasing transparency and legislative visibility into permitting performance, especially delays and long-pending applications. Agency feedback in the fiscal note is mixed: some departments expect little or no impact, while others anticipate meaningful administrative burden and cost.
The main point of contention is the administrative burden of producing the required reports, especially for agencies with large permitting portfolios. The Department of Environmental Services expects potentially substantial staffing costs because it manages many permitting programs and thousands of actions annually, while the Department of Transportation says its current software cannot easily track the required data and would need manual review and system modifications. By contrast, the Department of Administrative Services and some Natural and Cultural Resources divisions report little or no fiscal impact, and Fish and Game says it is not itself a permitting agency, though it may coordinate on reporting. The bill’s detailed 90-day delay reporting requirements are the most likely source of implementation difficulty.