2/13/26: Housing Matters Newsletter

Welcome back to our weekly newsletter!

The Housing Champions Program is front and center for the third week in a row.

Over the weekend, in an interview with WMUR, Governor Ayotte announced that she opposed the proposal to repeal the Housing Champions Program. This followed the House’s 185-166 largely party-line vote on February 5th to repeal the program (you can see how your State Representative(s) voted by clicking here and selecting roll calls).

The State Senate will immediately take up the proposal, with a scheduled hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday, February 18th at 10:45 AM. We have already heard from Seantors expressing their opposition to repealing the Housing Champions Program, but it’s important we don’t take anything for granted when it comes to important programs like this one. Please consider taking a few minutes to sign in online to register your opposition to repealing the Housing Champions Program. You can sign in online here. After clicking the sign-in link, select Tuesday, Feb. 18th → Senate Commerce Committee → HB 1196 → I oppose this bill.

In addition to signing in online, it is also valuable to email the Senate Commerce Committee to explain why you support the Housing Champions Program and oppose efforts to repeal it. The key points are that the program is expanding housing options and providing much-needed support for municipal infrastructure. You can read more about the program and our key talking points here.

Committee email addresses: Daniel.Innis@gc.nh.gov; Denise.Ricciardi@gc.nh.gov; Keith.Murphy@gc.nh.gov; Tim.McGough@gc.nh.gov; Donovan.Fenton@gc.nh.gov; Tara.Reardon@gc.nh.gov; aaron.jones@gc.nh.gov

Thank you all for your work. It’s clear that some policymakers are hearing us loud and clear that this critical program must continue.

As always, if you have questions about the legislation we mention in the newsletter or housing-related proposals that aren’t included, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

If you were forwarded this newsletter and would like to receive future updates, you can sign up here.

Best,

Nick Taylor

Executive Director

Housing Action NH

nick@housingactionnh.org

Next Housing Matters Zoom Meeting

On Friday, February 20th, at 10:00 am, we’ll be joined by the New Hampshire Office of Planning and Development to present on the latest trends in new housing permits.

In January, the Department of Business and Economic Affairs released its Current Estimates and Trends in New Hampshire’s Housing Supply report detailing positive trends in new permits while underscoring that New Hampshire continues to fall short of the permits needed to hit our 2023 Statewide Housing Needs Assessment goals.

Following the BEA presentation, we’ll run through the latest legislative updates.

You can register for this virtual meeting here.

Federal Policy: Housing for the 21st Century Act

Earlier this week, the United States House of Representatives passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act by a 390-9 vote. This proposal aims to streamline regulatory barriers and increase housing supply. Thank you to both Congressman Pappas and Congresswoman Goodlander for supporting this proposal. You can read more about the vote here.

State House Updates:

In The Committee Room

* As a reminder, the legislative office building is closed for renovations. All House committee meetings will be held at 1 Granite Place (South Building), Concord, NH. You can find directions and general information here. *

House Housing Committee: Tuesday, February 17th, Granite Place, Room 231

9:00 AM – HB 1026, relative to the definition of manufactured housing.

• What It Does: This bill clarifies that municipalities may prohibit accessory dwelling units with manufactured housing, and it specifies that manufactured housing does not include accessory dwelling units.
• Why It Matters: This is largely a clarification of existing state law; however, we don’t believe that state law should continue to treat new manufactured housing differently than other types of stick-built or off-site constructed housing.
• HANH Position: Oppose

10:00 AM – HB 1726, directing state agencies to identify and dispose of surplus property for affordable housing development.

• What It Does: This bill directs state agencies to identify surplus property for affordable housing and permits below-market conveyance to qualified developers. The requirement is that at least 20 percent of the housing units shall be affordable to low- and moderate-income households for a period of not less than 20 years.
• Why It Matters: There are opportunities to productively use surplus state property for the public good of affordable housing. This is one of many efforts to better identify and create a process for transferring underutilized state property. There is no current inventory of state surplus property, which makes it difficult to understand the scale of opportunity with this type of proposal.
• HANH Position: Support the concept; more research needed on the opportunity.

11:30 AM – HB 1660, relative to municipal credit enhancement agreements and tax increment financing for priority housing development.

• What It Does: Enables municipalities to enter into project-based credit enhancement agreements for housing. This would credit another financing tool similar to TIF Districts or 79-E program.
• Why It Matters: It is very difficult to finance below-market-rate development, even when all the parties involved – including the municipalities – want to make it happen. This proposal would give municipalities another tool to help move development forward. Credit enhancement agreements are a popular tool in Maine.
• HANH Position: Support

1:00 PM – HB 1681, relative to the definition, inspection, and local approval of tiny houses and yurts as innovative housing structures.

• What It Does: This bill establishes standards for innovative housing structures such as tiny houses, tiny houses on wheels, and yurts, allowing their use as single-family or accessory dwellings, setting inspection and permitting requirements, authorizing municipal property tax assessments, regulating transport, and permitting grey water disposal systems.
• Why It Matters: This proposal will create clear standards for a variety of innovative structures that can play a small role in increasing housing options for Granite Staters.
• HANH Position: Support

1:30 PM – HB 1588, establishing special assessment districts and expands the housing infrastructure grant program to allow for municipal upgrades linked to new housing and making an appropriation therefor.

• What It Does: This bill establishes special assessment districts and expands the housing infrastructure grant program to allow for municipal upgrades linked to new housing.
• Why it Matters: Infrastructure is a critical component of increasing housing density. This bill attempts to provide another pathway to finance that infrastructure. However, this proposal may be unnecessary as RSA 52-A already allows municipalities to establish special assessment districts for infrastructure.
• HANH Position: Support the concept

Subcommittee Work Session: 2:30 PM – HB 1079, allowing accessory dwelling units to be built within or attached to certain non-conforming structures.

Senate Commerce Committee: Tuesday, February 17th, State House Room 100

10:45 AM – HB 1196, repealing the state housing champion designation and grant program.

• What It Does: This bill repeals the Housing Champions Program.
• Why It Matters: The Housing Champions Program, administered by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, is a popular incentive-based program that rewards municipalities that take pro-home steps with a “housing champion” designation. The designation opens up additional grants and prioritized funding. There are 28 communities in New Hampshire that have been designated “housing champions” and they accounted for 45 percent of the new building permits issued in 2024.
• HANH Position: Oppose

State House Updates:

On The Floor

The House is scheduled to meet for session on Thursday, February 19th. They will vote on the following housing-related bills:

Housing Committee Consent Calendar

HB 1010, relative to residential development on commercially zoned land. OTP/A 17-0

• Housing Action NH opposed HB 1010 as introduced because it would repeal the residential in commercial zones bill signed into law last year. Housing Action is neutral on the OTP/A motion as the amendment makes technical changes to clarify implementation standards without undermining HB 631 from last session.

HB 1065-FN, relative to multi-family and mixed-use development in commercially zoned areas. Motion: ITL 17-0

• Housing Action NH supports the ITL motion.

HB 1120, allowing subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Motion: ITL 17-1

• Housing Action NH is neutral on this proposal.

HB 1143, relative to the remediation of mold in rental housing. Motion: ITL17-1

• Housing Action NH supported the concept behind this proposal.

HB 1349, relative to exemptions from multi-family zoning requirements for small or low-density communities. Motion: ITL 17-0

• Housing Action NH supports the ITL motion.

HB 1371, prohibiting application fees for residential rental agreements. Motion: ITL 16-2

• Housing Action NH supported the concept behind this proposal.

HB 1496, repealing the cap on residential parking spaces. Motion: ITL 16-0

• Housing Action NH supports the ITL motion.

HB 1523-FN, relative to disclosure requirements for condominium associations. Motion: OTP/A 18-0

• Housing Action NH is neutral on this proposal.

HB 1525, relative to zoning restrictions concerning dwelling unit occupancy. Motion: ITL 15-0

• Housing Action NH supports the ITL motion.

HB 1553, relative to pet-related fees and rent in residential tenancies. Motion: ITL 17-1

• Housing Action NH is neutral on this proposal.

HB 1598-FN, relative to notice for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes. Motion: OTP/A 15-3

• Housing Action NH opposed this proposal as it was introduced because it expedited the eviction process and undermined due process. As amended, the proposal largely codifies the existing judicial process into state law and was negotiated by New Hampshire Legal Assistance. Housing Action is neutral on the OTP/A motion.

Municipal and County Government Committee Consent Calendar

HB 1759, relative to the disqualification of a member of a local land use board. Motion: OTP/A 18-0

• Housing Action NH is neutral on this proposal.

Housing Committee Regular Calendar

HB 1499-FN, relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute. Motion: OTP/A: 10-8

• Housing Action NH opposes HB 1499. The committee amendment makes significant improvements to this proposal, which expands the criteria for eviction. The amendment improves the underlying bill by prohibiting a landlord from using the expanded criteria if it was disclosed prior to the lease agreement. While the amendment is an improvement, we still oppose the proposal.

HB 1732-FN, relative to housing accessibility and voucher allocation in new multi-unit developments. Motion: ITL 10-8.

• Housing Action NH supports the concept behind HB 1732 – increasing access to housing for people with disabilities and those with vouchers – however, we did not support the bill as introduced because of technical challenges with implementation that risked decreasing the ability to build new housing. The minority report is an OTP/A motion that would include adding universal design standards into the housing champions criteria and allowing municipalities to extend 79-E benefits to projects that meet universal design criteria. Housing Action supports that proposed amendment.

HB 1814-FN, establishing a 10-year strategic housing and infrastructure plan. Motion: ITL 10-8

• Housing Action NH is neutral on this proposal.

The Senate is scheduled to meet for session on Thursday, February 19th. They will vote on the following housing-related bills: 

SB 415, relative to a certain exemption in interest in condominium units. OTP/A: 6-0

• Housing Action NH supports the OTP motion.

SB 508, relative to the zoning board of adjustments appeal period. OTP/A: 6-0

• Housing Action NH supports the OTP motion.

SB 564, prohibiting certain municipal development restrictions. OTP: 6-0

• Housing Action NH supports the OTP motion.

SB 435, relative to the zoning board of adjustment variance criteria. OTP/A: 4-0

• Housing Action NH preferred the bill as introduced.

SB 419-FN-A, relative to the housing champion designation and program and the affordable housing fund, and making appropriations therefor. Interim Study: 5-2

• Housing Action NH supports an OTP motion.

State House Updates:

Floor Recap

The House met for session yesterday. There were no priority housing-related bills on the calendar.

The Senate did not meet for session this week.