5/9/25 Housing Matters Newsletter

Thank you to everyone who testified in support of housing at Tuesday’s public budget hearing! It was inspiring to hear Granite Staters speak up for affordable housing options, transitional and supportive housing, and looking out for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors.

Housing Action NH released this budget memo highlighting the housing implications within the state budget and our requests for additional support. Please consider sharing this memo with your State Senator and ask that they support housing progress in the budget.

The State Senate passed two significant bills – HB 631 and HB 685 –  that will increase housing options in New Hampshire. Housing Bill 631 allows for multi-family development in areas zoned for retail and office, creating more housing options near jobs and more walkable communities. House Bill 685 requires that communities treat manufactured housing just like any other type of construction, allowing this more affordable option to be built wherever single-family homes are allowed. You can read Housing Action NH’s statement on these bills passing here.

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 this newsletter was forwarded to you, and you want to receive future updates, you can sign up here.

Best,
Nick Taylor

Executive Director
Housing Action NH
nick@housingactionnh.org

Please voice your support for tenant protections by opposing legislation to allow for no-cause evictions at the end of a lease. House Bill 60 was originally scheduled for last week, but a significant turnout led to the hearing continuing this Tuesday.

HB 60 would overturn 40 years of legal precedent and create instability in a tight housing market, likely leading to increased homelessness. Landlords currently have many protected options for not renewing a lease or, if necessary, evicting a tenant, including construction upgrades, taking a unit off the market, damage or destruction, late payment, and more. The existing good cause legal precedent provides tenants with some legal protections against discrimination and retaliatory evictions (ie. asking for repairs).

On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee will hear HB 60 at 9:30 am.

Please oppose HB 60 online here by selecting Tuesday, May 13 -> Commerce Committee -> HB 60, or attend the committee hearing in person.

Senate Commerce Committee: Tuesday, May 13th, State House Room 100

9:30 AM – HB 60, relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term. (Note: This is a continuation of the hearing from last week)

• What The Bill Does: This bill overturns 40 years of landlord-tenant precedent by allowing for no-cause evictions at the expiration of a lease.
• Why It Matters: This proposal would create instability in a tight housing market, likely leading to increased homelessness. Landlords currently have many protected options for not renewing a lease or, if necessary, evicting a tenant, including construction upgrades, taking a unit off the market, damage or destruction, late payment, and more. The existing good cause legal precedent provides tenants with some legal protections against discrimination and retaliatory evictions (ie. asking for repairs).

The House of Representatives will not meet for session next week. The next planned session is Thursday, May 22.

The Senate will meet for session next Thursday, May 15th. The Senate will consider the following housing-related bill:

• HB 731, relative to supportive housing options for individuals with developmental disabilities. This extends a limited license exemption for certain supportive housing options for individuals with disabilities located within a larger facility or apartment building. HB 731 received a 5-0 OTP recommendation.

The House of Representatives met for session yesterday. They passed the following bills:

• Senate Bill 173, adds clarity and simplifies the process for assessing Low Income Housing Tax Credit developments.
• Senate Bill 153, authorizes an optional public/private partnership between the Department of Transportation and residential developers, allowing reduced times for driveway permits. The new process would require approval or denial of any driveway permit for residential use of 20 units or greater to be completed within 60 days of receiving a completed application. The new process would allow for the collection of fees and the use of third-party consultants to expedite the process with the Department of Transportation oversight and final approval.

The State Senate met for session yesterday. They passed the following bills:

• House Bill 631, allows for multi-family development in areas zoned for retail or office space allowing for the revitalization of aging strip malls and underutilized office space. HB 631 passed on a voice vote. Read more about this proposal here.
• House Bill 685, allows for manufactured homes to be treated just like any other type of single-family construction. HB 685 passed on a voice vote.