This was a very good housing week in the legislature! 

The House and Senate both took steps forward on key proposals. House Bill 577, which would allow detached accessory dwelling units by right, and House Bill 685, which would treat manufactured housing just like any other type of single-family housing by allowing it on any residential lot, both passed on the consent calendar and are now on to the Senate.

Senate Bill 81, which would increase financial support for the state’s Affordable Housing Fund, passed on the consent calendar and will head to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. Senate Bill 158, which would double the Community Development Finance Authority’s popular tax credit program from $5 million to $10 million each year, passed and was tabled for consideration in the state budget. 

Senate Bill 84, which would legalize homes on smaller lots by addressing overburdensome lot sizes, was special ordered to next week’s session. 

Housing Action NH released the following statement after yesterday’s votes:

“Too many people looking to buy or rent a home have been squeezed out by skyrocketing prices and limited choices. By allowing more home types — like accessory dwelling units and manufactured homes — and by boosting funding for affordable housing, these proposals offer hope for teachers, health care workers, service employees, and others who wish to live near their jobs, families, and support networks. Whether you’re a long-time resident or a young professional starting out, these bills ensure there’s a place for you in our community. There is still a long way to go as these proposals move to the other chamber, or are considered for the state budget, but there’s no doubt today was a strong, bipartisan step forward.”

Taken together, these proposals will make a real impact in addressing our state’s housing shortage.

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

Director
Housing Action NH
nick@housingactionnh.org

 

If You Only Have 5 Minutes…

Senate Bill 84 takes the top action spot for another week.

Senate Bill 84, which would legalize homes on smaller lots, was special ordered to next week’s session. It’s likely going to be a very close vote.

Please reach out to your State Senator and ask them to support SB 84. 

You can learn more about Senate Bill 84 by reading this blog post on our website and downloading this one-pager. 

 

In The Committee Room

We are at the stage in the legislative session where policy committees are working their way through final potential amendments to their remaining bills, so it’s a light week for public hearings. The legislature is approaching its crossover deadlines, where all bills must be acted on in the chamber where they started. In the coming weeks, the House will begin hearing bills that passed the Senate, and the Senate will hear bills that passed the House. 

One big hearing to watch is the state budget public hearing in the House Finance Committee.

 
House Finance Committee: Wednesday, March 12th, Representatives Hall
 

2:00 pm — House Bill 1 and 2, the New Hampshire state budget.

  • What The Bill Does: House Bills 1 and 2 comprise the New Hampshire state budget. House Bill 1 is the financial appropriations and House Bill 2 is the policy trailer bill that includes any policy changes necessary within the budget.
  • Why It Matters: The state budget touches housing policy in a few ways, including any appropriations to the Affordable Housing Fund, homeless shelter contracts, and eviction prevention funds. 
  • What to Expect: This hearing follows the same framework as a typical committee hearing but is held in Representatives Hall due to the large number of participants. You can also submit written testimony regarding what you want to see in the budget online.
 

On The Floor

The House of Representatives will convene for session on Thursday, March 13th. The notable housing bills are:

  • HB 382, as amended, would prohibit municipalities from requiring more than one parking spot per unit. It’s important to remember that reducing parking restrictions doesn’t lead to no parking; it leads to right-sized parking. The House Housing Committee voted unanimously to support this proposal as amended, and it is on the consent calendar. 

  • HB 572 establishes the “partners in housing program” under the Housing Champions fund to assist municipalities and developers in building workforce housing, specifically single-family starter homes, duplexes, small apartment buildings, and other missing middle housing on municipally and county-owned land that is suitable for residential development. The House Housing Committee voted unanimously to support this proposal as amended. 

The Senate will convene for session on Thursday, March 13th. The notable housing bills are:

  • SB 84 sets baseline minimum lot sizes (the minimum amount of land needed to build a home) for a majority of land zoned to permit single-family homes. The lot size depends on whether a lot has access to municipal water and sewer infrastructure. Legalizing smaller lot sizes allows for more starter homes and homes suitable for downsizing. SB 84 received a 5-1 OTP recommendation. 

  • SB 86 creates a state-backed loan guarantee program through New Hampshire Housing. This loan guarantee will help affordable housing developers secure more favorable lending terms and lower overall costs. This bill received a 5-0 vote out of the Commerce Committee and is on the consent calendar. 
  • SB 279 continues the incentive-based Housing Champions Program administered by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs by appropriating $5 million to replenish the grant fund available to Housing Champion Communities.  This bill received a 5-0 vote out of the Commerce Committee and is on the consent calendar.
 

Floor Recap

HB 399, which creates a commission to review New Hampshire’s Zoning Enabling Act, passed the Senate yesterday and now heads to Governor Ayotte for signature.  

HB 577 (ADUs) passed unanimously on the consent calendar and heads to the Senate.

HB 685 (manufactured housing) passed unanimously on the consent calendar and heads to the Senate.

SB 78 limits the timeline to appeal a ZBA decision to 30 days. It passed on the consent calendar and heads to the House.

SB 81 (affordable housing fund) passed on the consent calendar and heads to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

SB 158 (CDFA tax credit) passed on a voice vote and was tabled for consideration in the budget. 

SB 188 allows for licensed third-party building inspections. It passed on a voice vote and will head to the House.
 

What We’re Reading

(WMUR) CONCORD, N.H. — The housing crisis is a top issue for New Hampshire voters, and there’s a new effort at the State House to make sure lawmakers get the message.

The New Hampshire Housing Supply Coalition is calling for action this year and beyond.

The coalition launched to help make the push for change, calling on lawmakers to act on three policy pillars: land use reform, regulatory and permitting reform, and housing program funding support.