Budget & Taxes

HB 1580 imposes a 0.75% annual surcharge on the assessed value of residential properties not used as the owner’s primary residence (defined as living there 183+ days yearly and listing it for voter/driver’s license/tax purposes). It directly affects owners of second homes, vacation properties, or vacant residential properties (including single-family homes, condos, and mobile homes). Key exemptions include primary residences, long-term rentals (6+ months), properties under $500,000, and those qualifying for existing tax exemptions. Revenue collected must be used by municipalities to reduce property taxes or fund local services like schools and infrastructure. The bill takes effect April 1, 2027.

HB 1596 raises New Hampshire's cigarette and little cigar tax from $1.78 to $2.80 per pack of 20, increasing revenue for state funds. It appropriates $18 million annually to New Hampshire's university system to restore higher education funding to 2024 levels. The bill also stops collecting premiums for two health programs: the Children's Health Insurance Program and the NH Granite Advantage health care program. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, with tobacco tax revenue funding the university appropriation and education trust fund.

HB 1810 imposes a $4 fee per ton (or equivalent) on bulk road salt, road salt mix, and brine sold in New Hampshire to fund certified winter road maintenance practices. The fee is collected annually by bulk sellers (e.g., suppliers to municipalities, businesses, or state agencies) and deposited into a dedicated road salt mitigation fund. Sellers must file annual returns with the Department of Revenue Administration, maintain sales records for three years, and provide receipts showing the fee paid. This policy directly affects road salt bulk sellers and ensures funds support certified winter road maintenance programs across the state.

HB 1661 expands New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority's "Community Heroes" program to provide homeownership assistance to essential workers. It appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $1.5 million annually thereafter from the General Fund to fund the program, with no more than 10% allowed for administrative costs. The program specifically targets eligible workers in healthcare, childcare, elder care, law enforcement, firefighting, education, and active military service, allowing them to use funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions. The bill requires the Housing Finance Authority to establish rules defining eligibility and takes effect July 1, 2028, for the annual appropriation.

HB 572 establishes the "Partners in Housing" program, a low-interest loan and grant program under the Housing Champions Fund to help municipalities, counties, and developers build workforce housing. The program prioritizes single-family starter homes, duplexes, small apartment buildings, and "missing middle housing" on municipally-owned land suitable for residential development, with $2 million of the $10 million total funding specifically allocated for this initiative. Municipalities can identify suitable public land for housing development, which would be added to a statewide list prioritized for program funding, and projects must include at least 20% affordable units for 20 years. The program also includes expedited review processes for qualifying projects to speed up development. The bill appropriates $10 million for the Housing Champions Fund, with $500,000 designated for program administration.

HB 624 creates a grant program to provide funding to existing local river management advisory committees in New Hampshire. These committees, established under state law, can apply for grants of up to $10,000 annually to support their work managing local river resources. The bill appropriates $40,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $40,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the General Fund, to be administered by the Department of Environmental Services. The program requires the department to develop application rules but does not include funding for administrative costs.