Earlier this week, Housing Action NH released new polling data assessing Granite Staters’ priorities, their views on the current state of the housing market, and their support for new policies to expand housing availability and affordability in the state.
Here are key findings from the statewide poll:
Housing is a pressing concern for voters across party affiliation and income level. 96% percent of Democrats, 93% percent of Independents, and 85% percent of Republicans view housing in New Hampshire as a “major problem” or “somewhat a problem.”
- 52% of New Hampshire voters say housing is the top issue facing New Hampshire today.
- 80% of New Hampshire voters say there are not enough homes that ordinary people can afford to rent or buy.
- 76% of New Hampshire voters say housing costs have had a negative impact on their or their loved ones’ lives, with 38% of voters experiencing challenges affording other basic needs like groceries or medicine due to the high cost of housing.
Voters think the state should take action to address housing concerns and prioritize building more homes and bringing down costs over blanket protections of local control.
- 87% of New Hampshire voters agree that the state should take action to address the cost and availability of homes.
- Only 15% of New Hampshire voters think their city or town is doing enough to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis.
- When presented with a choice between building more affordable housing and preserving the existing character of local neighborhoods, 68% of New Hampshire say it is more important to build more homes.
- When asked about building homes in their own neighborhoods, 72% of voters say they would prefer more housing options in their neighborhood, even if it means their neighborhood may look different.
Voters support specific policy solutions.
- When voters were asked about a suite of policies proposed in the state legislature this year, nearly 80% of New Hampshire voters support a state legislative proposal to allow modern manufactured homes in more neighborhoods, which is currently proposed in HB 1357.
- Voters also support allowing homes to be built on smaller lots, making it easier to build duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes, and including additional funding in the next state budget to help fund affordable housing.
Voters support legislators who take action.
- 60% of New Hampshire voters prefer a candidate who votes to allow more homes to be built, even if it means city governments have less authority to decide what gets built.
- 55% of New Hampshire voters would vote for a candidate in a primary election if they worked across the aisle to support policies expanding housing availability and affordability.
- 57% of New Hampshire voters would be less likely to support their State Representative or Senator if they voted against policies to expand housing availability and affordability.
Full polling results and details about methodology can be viewed here.
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State House Updates:
In The Committee Room
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* 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 10th, Granite Place, Room 231
9:00 AM – HB 1613, directing the Department of Business and Economic Affairs to produce a report detailing methods to increase lending practices for housing developments that help persons with disabilities.
- What It Does: Directs the Department of Business and Economic Affairs to produce a report detailing methods to increase lending practices for housing developments that help persons with disabilities.
- Why It Matters: Individuals with disabilities often struggle to find affordable and accessible housing options. This report would create a pathway for potential future legislation.
- HANH Position: Support
9:30 AM – HB 1021, amending the date to provide written notice to a municipality of a taxpayer’s election to be assessed under the low-income housing tax credit program.
- What It Does: This proposal shifts the date that a LIHTC project can request the SB 173 appraisal process from October 1 to April 1.
- HANH Position: Monitor
10:00 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 largely clarifies existing state law.
- HANH Position: Monitor
11:00 AM – HB 1218, relative to the disclosure of rights and responsibilities during the sale of a mobile home in a mobile home park.
- What It Does: This bill clarifies repair notice timing and responsibilities, requires disclosure of purchaser approval criteria, mandates seller communication access, and reduces park fees after repeated denials of qualified buyers in larger mobile home parks.
- HANH Position: Monitor
11:30 AM – HB 1251, relative to restricting municipal downzoning inconsistent with existing neighborhood density.
- What It Does: This bill requires municipalities to approve residential construction permits when a licensed architect certifies that the proposed density matches surrounding development, and prohibits discretionary zoning denials inconsistent with existing neighborhood patterns.
- Why It Matters: In neighborhoods built prior to strict zoning regulations, you often find a mix of single-family, two-family, and three-family homes. This type of gentle density was common prior to more restrictive zoning. This proposal seeks to allow context-based density by requiring local approval for density consistent with the neighborhood character.
- HANH Position: Support concept, technical improvements necessary for implementation
1:00 PM – HB 1764, establishing community workforce housing targets, special assessment provisions, and a revolving loan fund for workforce housing development.
- What It Does: This bill establishes municipal workforce housing targets, reporting requirements, zoning review procedures, and a special property tax assessment for underperformance, with proceeds funding a revolving loan program for housing development and infrastructure. If a municipality does not meet its targets, an additional property tax will be assessed at increasing rates for properties valued above $1.5 million. The additional revenue will go to a Workforce Housing Revolving Loan Fund administered by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
- Why It Matters: There are several good ideas in this proposal; however, we are concerned about the administrative challenges and the creation of a new loan fund, given that the Affordable Housing Fund already effectively provides low-interest loans and grants.
- HANH Position: Monitor
2:30 PM – HB 1295, relative to eligibility requirements for charitable and nonprofit housing projects.
- What It Does: This bill restricts eligibility requirements for charitable, nonprofit housing project tax exemptions with a specific focus on elderly housing.
- HANH Position: Monitor
House Municipal and County Government: Tuesday, February 10th, Granite Place, Room 154
10:05 AM – HB 1181, relative to public hearing notice requirements for zoning board of adjustment appeals.
- What It Does: This bill updates the public hearing requirement for zoning boards of adjustment by replacing the requirement that a notice be published in a newspaper of general circulation with a requirement that the notice be posted on the municipality’s public website for at least 5 days before the hearing.
- HANH Position: Monitor
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Housing: Tuesday, February 10th, State House Room 100
8:30 AM – Work Session on Relevant Legislation
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State House Updates:
Committee Room Recap
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The House Housing Committee made the following recommendations on pending legislation.
- CACR 16, relating to property. Providing that individuals may sleep on property they own or have a legal right to occupy. Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action does not have a position on this proposal.
- HB 1008, relative to modifying innovative land use controls, requirements, and appeals; Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action opposed this legislation as written.
- HB 1010, relative to residential development on commercially zoned land. Committee recommendation: OTP/A 17-0. Housing Action opposed this legislation as introduced. The amendment makes clarifying changes to existing law. Housing Action is neutral on the bill as amended.
- HB 1017, relative to accessory dwelling units and workforce housing; Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action opposed this legislation as written.
- HB 1065-FN, relative to multi-family and mixed-use development in commercially zoned areas; Committee recommendation: ITL 17-0. Housing Action opposed this legislation.
- HB 1120, allowing subdivision regulations concerning water supply; Committee recommendation: ITL 17-1. Housing Action does not have a position on this proposal.
- HB 1143, relative to the remediation of mold in rental housing; Committee recommendation: ITL 17-1. Housing Action supported the concept behind this proposal.
- HB 1145-FN, relative to affordable housing investment fees. Committee recommendation: ITL 11-7. Housing Action opposed this legislation as written.
- HB 1171, relative to eviction safeguards for tenants whose Social Security payments are disrupted. Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action supported the concept behind this proposal.
- HB 1349, relative to exemptions from multi-family zoning requirements for small or low-density communities. Committee recommendation: ITL 17-0. Housing Action opposed this legislation.
- HB 1371, prohibiting application fees for residential rental agreements; Committee recommendation: ITL 16-2. Housing Action supported this legislation.
- HB 1499-FN, relative to additional grounds for eviction under the landlord and tenant statute; Committee recommendation: OTP/A 10-8. The amendment significantly improves the legislation; however, Housing Action remains opposed to expanded criteria for evictions.
- HB 1523-FN, relative to disclosure requirements for condominium associations. Committee recommendation: OTP/A 18-0. Housing Action does not have a position on this proposal.
- HB 1553, relative to pet-related fees and rent in residential tenancies. Committee recommendation: ITL 17-1. Housing Action does not have a position on this proposal.
- HB 1598-FN, relative to notice for tenants and landlords engaged in eviction processes; Committee recommendation: OTP/A 15-3. Housing Action opposed this legislation as introduced. The amendment significantly improves the legislation and Housing Action is neutral on the OTP/A motion.
- HB 1732-FN, relative to housing accessibility and voucher allocation in new multi-unit developments. Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action supports the underlying goals of this legislation, but opposed this legislation as written.
- HB 1814-FN, establishing a 10-year strategic housing and infrastructure plan. Committee recommendation: ITL 10-8. Housing Action did not have a position on this bill as written.
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State House Updates:
On The Floor
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The House is scheduled to meet for session on Thursday, February 12th. They do not have any priority housing bills on the calendar.
The Senate is not scheduled to meet for floor votes next week
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State House Updates:
Floor Recap
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The House met for session yesterday and voted on the following housing-related proposals:
Housing Committee Consent Calendar
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1006, relative to on-site parking requirements for accessory dwelling units. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1009, relative to municipal parking requirements for residential units. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1011, repealing zoning restrictions on dwelling units. Housing Action NH supported the ITL recommendation.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1012, repealing accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1016, eliminating the requirement that municipalities allow for manufactured housing development opportunities. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1625-FN, relative to annual reporting on accessory dwelling unit construction and use. Housing Action NH supported this concept with an amendment.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1662-FN, relative to providing loan guarantees for accessory dwelling unit financing. Housing Action NH supported further review of the concept.
Municipal and County Government Committee Consent Calendar
- PASSED (OTP) – HB 1246, relative to planning board members serving on other local boards. Housing Action NH did not have a position on this bill.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1461-FN-LOCAL, encouraging municipalities with sewage systems to extend system service to neighboring communities. Housing Action NH supported this concept.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1497, relative to replacing members of local land use boards for certain conduct. Housing Action NH did not have a position on this bill.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1674, creating a tax exemption for certain lower-income property owners. Housing Action NH did not have a position on this bill.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1802-FN-A, relative to training, testing, and certification of local land use board members and making an appropriations therefor. Housing Action NH did not have a position on this bill.
Housing Committee Regular Calendar
- TABLED – HB 1098, relative to municipalities denying building or occupancy permits for property adjacent to class VI roads under certain circumstances. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
- PASSED (OTP) – HB 1196-FN, repealing the state housing champion designation and grant program. Housing Action NH supported an ITL motion. The floor vote was 185-166.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1405-FN, relative to the housing finance authority’s affordable housing guarantee program. Housing Action NH supported an OTP motion. The floor vote was 186-162.
- TABLED – HB 1612-FN, relative to the use of price-fixing websites, algorithms, or other software by landlords. Housing Action NH supported an OTP motion.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HB 1661-FN, relative to expanding the housing finance authority’s community heroes program and makes an appropriation therefor. Housing Action NH supported an OTP motion. The floor vote was 179-166.
- DEFEATED (ITL) – HR 30, finding that planning, zoning, and related regulations have been and should continue to be the responsibility of municipal government. Housing Action NH supported the ITL motion.
The Senate met for session yesterday. They voted on the following housing-related bill:
- DEFEATED (ITL) – SB 436, relative to zoning board of adjustment membership criteria. Housing Action NH did not have a position on this proposal.
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