With a new year comes a slate of new laws coming into effect. Of the hundreds of bills tracked by BIA during the 2025 legislative session, some 61 bills became law. These changes impact everything from the housing market to the state’s energy policy, labor laws, and the powers of the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division. Here is snapshot of news laws now in effect of interest to employers and the business community.

In BIA’s policy setting process leading up to the 2025 session, we overwhelmingly heard from businesses that housing availability and affordability was severely impacting their ability to attract and retain workers at all income levels. Unsurprisingly, state legislators and the governor heard the same thing from their constituents and their efforts resulted in several positive reforms to the legal framework surrounding the housing market. Today, because of those efforts, the housing market will be better able to respond to demand signals going forward.

No better example can be found that HB 631, which will empower developers to build mixed residential and commercial developments in commercially zoned areas as of July 1, 2026. Looking around Main Street, it’s clear that everything old is new again. This kind of mixed-use development defines downtowns across New Hampshire, and with HB 631 in place, this type of development will be significantly more feasible.

The legislature also responded to overwhelming public opinion on accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Not only did polling during the legislative session show that a supermajority of voters supported allowing homeowners to build detached ADUs, but a survey of towns showed that more than half had already voted to allow detached ADUs. New Hampshire’s new ADU law will ensure this type of housing is a piece of the puzzle of addressing our state’s supply and affordability crisis.

Commercial property was not left out of the legislature’s consideration. New Hampshire instituted a commercial property-assigned clean energy and resiliency (C-PACER) program, operated by the Business Finance Authority. This voluntary financing mechanism for energy-efficient upgrades, building insulation, cost-effective renewable energy, and water conservation measures is available for any commercial property, if the local municipality has opted-in, and provides a new tool for businesses looking to make investments in their properties.

On the labor front, one small but important change of note impacts new parents. Employers with 20-or-more employees should be aware that new parents are now entitled to 25 hours of unpaid leave during the year after birth or adoption. This change to the state’s labor laws is designed to allow new parents to leave work for a few hours and bring their children to their standard pediatric appointments. Employers retain the ability to have employees provide reasonable notice prior to taking this leave.

Businesses should also be aware that an overhaul of the Secretary of State’s Corporation Division’s investigative power and authority occurred this year as well. Having identified several instances of fake businesses being formed for the purpose of gaining access to the credit lines of legitimate businesses, this change empowers the Secretary to investigate and prevent the formulation of such fraudulent businesses and take action against individuals who engage in such activities.

While there are a number of other laws that have now gone into effect, it may be fitting to end this snapshot of new laws with the ability of cities and towns to create social districts. These districts, popular in other states, can help drive additional foot traffic to downtown retailers, main streets, and entertainment districts and increase interest in community events sponsored by local organizations. Laconia and Concord so far have approved the creation of social districts, which could lead to more communities following suit in the year ahead.

Michael Skelton is president and CEO of the Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire. Visit BIAofNH.com.