SB 560 updates New Hampshire’s statutes governing coordinate systems used in surveying, mapping, and land records. The bill formally adopts the most recent state plane coordinate system released by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) as the “New Hampshire state plane coordinate system” (NHSPCS), and defines it as the New Hampshire portion of the current NGS state plane coordinate system based on the National Spatial Reference System. It also updates terminology throughout RSA chapter 1-A to recognize the new system alongside the older 1927 and 1983 systems.
The bill revises how coordinate values are expressed and used. It preserves the older 1927 and 1983 systems for limited purposes, but clarifies that the 1983 system may not be used for projects commenced after the new NHSPCS has been released for public use by NGS or its successors. It also standardizes the units and axis descriptions for the new system, including feet or meters, and clarifies how x- and y-coordinates are defined in relation to zone meridians and axes.
Impact
SB 560 amends RSA chapter 1-A, which governs New Hampshire coordinate systems, by adding a statutory definition of the modern NHSPCS, revising application and terminology provisions, and repealing and reenacting the section on recording coordinates. It requires recorded survey coordinates tied to land boundaries to be accompanied by a licensed land surveyor’s statement describing the basis and survey method used. The bill also adds a new restriction section limiting use of the named coordinate systems to coordinates actually based on the corresponding statutory system, which affects surveyors, engineers, mapping professionals, and public land record filings.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill was treated as a technical modernization measure rather than a controversial policy change. Its title and text indicate a consensus-oriented update to align state law with current federal geodetic standards, and there are no recorded votes or committee transcripts showing opposition. The overall sentiment appears neutral to favorable, with the bill moving as an administrative and professional standards update for surveying and mapping practice.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Based on the text, any concerns would likely center on the transition from the 1983 system to the new NGS-released system, including how projects already underway are treated, how surveyors document coordinate bases in recorded instruments, and whether the new terminology could create compliance burdens for practitioners. However, the record provided does not show any expressed disagreement from legislators, agencies, or stakeholders.
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