Rep. Allan Howland

Maddy summaryHB 1814 establishes a 10-year statewide strategic housing and infrastructure plan (SHIP) that requires the governor to develop and update the plan every two years. The plan must identify housing needs, incorporate regional infrastructure projects, and include public input through hearings in each executive council district. It directly affects state agencies (like the Department of Business and Economic Affairs), municipalities (which must update master plans every 10 years), and regional planning organizations. The bill also expands the Council on Housing Stability’s membership to include regional planning representatives and housing advocates, ensuring broader input into housing strategy.

Maddy summaryHB 1786 imposes a semi-annual state assessment on residential properties valued over $1 million that are not used as a primary residence (luxury second homes), directly affecting owners of such properties. The revenue generated funds statewide housing development programs, including $15 million for workforce training in building trades and municipal grants for housing production. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund for demolishing vacant buildings, expanding tax credits for housing infrastructure, and establishing a commission to study state financing for housing. The bill aims to address New Hampshire's housing shortage by leveraging new revenue to support affordable housing construction and workforce development.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires New Hampshire state agencies to identify surplus property suitable for affordable housing development and make it available to qualified developers at below-market rates. The bill mandates that at least 20% of housing units developed on such property must remain affordable to low- and moderate-income households for a minimum of 20 years, with legal restrictions ensuring this use. It also prioritizes municipal grant funding for communities collaborating with state agencies on identifying and rezoning eligible land. The bill does not provide new state funding but allows agencies to retain proceeds from property sales for one additional budget cycle. This directly affects state agencies, qualified housing developers, and low-to-moderate-income households seeking affordable housing.

Maddy summaryHB 1079 allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be built within or attached to existing non-conforming structures, such as garages or older homes that don’t meet current zoning rules for setbacks or lot coverage. It directly affects homeowners with pre-July 1, 2025 structures and municipalities that must permit these conversions without requiring compliance with modern dimensional standards. Key provisions require local governments to allow ADUs in existing structures (including nonconforming ones) and define "existing structure" as built before July 2025. This bill amends New Hampshire law to remove barriers for adding small, secondary housing units in currently permitted structures.

Maddy summaryHB 1103 expands tax relief credits for municipalities by allowing them to apply community revitalization tax credits to more property types. Specifically, it enables tax credits for converting existing office, commercial, or industrial buildings to residential use, and for new residential construction meeting affordability standards. Properties must be located in designated housing opportunity or residential conversion zones, with tax relief lasting up to 11 years if workforce housing is created. This directly affects property owners and municipalities seeking to incentivize housing development in targeted areas. The bill amends New Hampshire’s tax code to broaden eligibility beyond current standards, effective April 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1540 establishes statewide rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allowing one ADU per single-family home as a matter of right in most zoning districts without extra lot size or design requirements beyond those for the main home. In protected shoreland areas, municipalities may permit ADUs as a matter of right or through conditional permits, and they can choose to allow detached units if they meet specific environmental and zoning standards. The bill prohibits multiple ADUs per home, ADUs in townhouses (attached multi-family properties), ADUs on rented land, and separate sales of ADUs from the main house without municipal approval. It provides municipalities with clear guidance for zoning, permitting, and environmental protections related to ADUs while standardizing requirements across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1303 authorizes New Hampshire municipalities to adopt local zoning rules for protecting, managing, or replacing tree canopy. These rules could require developers to retain existing trees during construction, plant new trees when trees are removed, or set long-term goals for tree coverage in community planning. The bill gives municipalities the option to implement such rules but does not require them to do so. This policy change directly affects development projects and land use decisions in towns or cities that choose to adopt these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1783 creates new benefits for community-based water and wastewater treatment projects that enable residential construction on smaller lot sizes. The Department of Environmental Services will determine if projects qualify, and qualifying projects may receive priority for housing grants, preferred financing rates from the municipal bond bank, or expedited approvals. These benefits apply specifically to innovative regional water/wastewater systems that reduce minimum lot size requirements for homes, as defined under existing law. The bill does not provide new state funding for these benefits.

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 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.