Rep. Ellen Read

Maddy summaryHB 1662 requires New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority (HFA) to offer loan guarantees for accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development. The bill directs the HFA to provide guarantees covering 80-100% of a loan amount based on the completed ADU's appraised value, with an annual cap of $100 million in total guarantees. It directly affects ADU developers and homeowners seeking financing, as well as approved lenders participating in the program. The bill appropriates $25,000 for administrative costs in fiscal years 2027 and 2028, funded from the General Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 1707 imposes an additional tax on properties left unoccupied for six or more months annually or used as short-term rentals for that period, requiring owners to pay the full local property taxes owed. It also creates a one-time exemption from the real estate transfer tax for first-time homebuyers with household incomes at or below 100% of the HUD-defined median for their area, who do not own other property. The tax applies to property owners, while the exemption directly benefits qualifying low- and moderate-income homebuyers. The bill takes effect April 1, 2027, with a $300,000 estimated one-time implementation cost.

Maddy summaryHB 1524 requires all New Hampshire public high schools to offer a logic and critical thinking course as part of their curriculum, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates a minimum of 54 instructional hours for this course and defines critical thinking as understanding evidence, identifying logical fallacies, and evaluating information sources like social media. The state board of education must develop policy guidelines for teaching the course, and schools must integrate existing critical thinking instruction into this new requirement. This directly affects all high school students and educators across the state, with no new state funding provided for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1664 directs New Hampshire’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to remove the Hannah Duston Memorial and its historic marker in Boscawen. The bill states the memorial distorts history by not acknowledging Native American perspectives and glorifies the violent act of scalping and killing 10 Native people (including six children), as described in the memorial’s legend. The department must remove the memorial and marker, with options to destroy them or store them for potential future display in an accurate, objective manner that respects all historical participants. This bill specifically targets the physical memorial site, not broader historical narratives or policies.

Maddy summaryCACR 16 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a new right to the New Hampshire Constitution, protecting individuals who own property or have a legal right to occupy it from being prohibited from sleeping there. The amendment states that no law or ordinance may restrict this activity solely because it involves sleeping, as long as the person's presence on the property is otherwise lawful. It directly affects property owners and tenants with legal occupancy rights by preventing local governments from criminalizing sleeping on their own property or property they lawfully occupy. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 exempts motorcycles with a model year more than 20 years old from requiring a certificate of title in New Hampshire. This applies to owners of older motorcycles, directly affecting them by removing a registration requirement. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and would reduce state title fees (estimated $60,000 annually) and related local revenue. The change aligns with current law updates and was supported by the Department of Safety, which noted approximately 1,700 motorcycles would be impacted annually.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 establishes a program allowing New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority to guarantee up to 80% of loans for affordable housing projects. This reduces risk for lenders financing housing where costs (rent/mortgage plus utilities/taxes) do not exceed 30% of residents' income, defined as 50-80% of state median income. The program limits annual guarantees to $30 million per lender and $300 million total statewide. It directly affects lenders, housing developers, and low/moderate-income residents seeking affordable homes.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 creates a new homestead tax exemption for lower-income homeowners in New Hampshire, directly affecting individuals who own and reside in a single primary residence. To qualify, applicants must have a household income at or below 100% of the median income for a 3-person household in their area (per HUD data), have lived at the property for at least one year prior to April 1, own no more than one property as their primary home, and meet their municipality’s assessed home value limits. Municipalities must hold a vote to adopt the exemption at a town meeting or through their legislative body; it is not automatic. The exemption would take effect on April 1, 2027, and applies only to properties meeting these specific income and residency criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1602 would expand the authority of the Housing Appeals Board to review and modify final decisions made by state agencies and municipal boards regarding housing permits, fees, and licenses. The bill allows applicants and other aggrieved parties with legal standing to appeal these decisions directly to the board, while also requiring municipalities to be parties in such cases. A key provision is that appeals of local decisions can only proceed after all local remedies have been exhausted. Although the bill was referred for an interim study, the committee ultimately did not recommend it for future legislation.