May 2 Housing Matters Newsletter

Welcome to the Housing Matters Newsletter! 

Last week, we highlighted the importance of the state budget on housing policy. This week we’re sharing how you can make your voice heard!

On Tuesday, May 6th, at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the New Hampshire state budget. The public hearing is an important opportunity for the Committee to hear from the public on what they want to see in the next state budget. 

If you are interested in providing input on the state budget, you can either testify in person or submit testimony online. 

For those wishing to testify in person, you will sign in at the beginning of the hearing and be invited up to the microphone to speak by the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. This hearing typically lasts well into the evening, given the wide range of topics within the state budget. The Finance Committee will open the hearing at 1:00 pm and plans on recessing at 5:00 pm for dinner, before re-opening the hearing at 6:00 pm. Testimony is often limited to just a few minutes to give everyone a chance to speak. 

If you cannot attend in person, you can email written testimony to the Finance Committee just like you would on any other bill. You can copy the email addresses for the Finance Committee below: 

James.Gray@gc.nh.gov; Daniel.Innis@gc.nh.gov; Regina.Birdsell@gc.nh.gov; Howard.Pearl@gc.nh.gov; Sharon.Carson@gc.nh.gov; Timothy.Lang@gc.nh.gov; David.Watters@gc.nh.gov; Cindy.Rosenwald@gc.nh.gov

The best testimony – in person or written – is focused on issues that you feel passionately about! Here are a few suggested topics:

• Financial incentives for affordable housing – Ask the Finance Committee to support additional funding for the Affordable Housing Fund, Housing Champions Program, and Community Development Finance Authority Tax Credit. 
• Support emergency shelter contracts – Ask the Senate Finance Committee to increase funding for the Department of Health and Human Services emergency shelter contracts. 
• Restore the Housing Appeals Board – The House of Representatives eliminated the Housing Appeals Board and created a new system within the Superior Court. The Housing Appeals Board provides faster resolutions with more land use policy expertise. Ask the Finance Committee to restore the Housing Appeals Board.
• Restore funding for the Regional Planning Commissions – The House of Representatives eliminated funding for the Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs). The RPCs provide technical assistance and long-term planning resources to municipalities all across the state. Ask the Finance Committee to restore funding for the RPCs ($100,000 per year).

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

There are two important bills heading to the floor of the State Senate next week that will expand housing options for Granite Staters. 

First up is HB 631, which would allow multi-family housing on land zoned for commercial activities such as retail and office space. This proposal will help revitalize aging strip malls and underutilized office space and allow for more vibrant main streets where Granite Staters can live and work. It encourages new housing options where there is existing infrastructure and jobs. You can read more about HB 631 and download our one-pager on our website.

Next up is HB 685, which would treat manufactured housing just like any other type of single-family construction. Currently, communities may prohibit manufactured housing where other types of single family homes are allowed. This is largely based on stigma associated with manufactured housing, including the design and the residents. The modern manufactured homes fit right into existing neighborhoods and provide wealth-building opportunities to hardworking Granite Staters. 

Please reach out to your State Senator and ask them to support HB 631 and HB 685.

Please voice your support for tenant protections by opposing legislation to allow for no-cause evictions at the end of a lease.

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 for-cause legal precedent provides tenants with legal protections against discrimination and retaliatory evictions (ie. asking for repairs). 

On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee will hear HB 60 at 10:40 am.

Please oppose HB 60 online here by selecting Tuesday, May 6 -> Commerce Committee -> HB 60, or attend the committee hearing in person. 

House Housing Committee: Tuesday, May 6th, LOB Room 305

10:00 am — The House Housing Committee will meet on Tuesday to make Committee recommendations. The Committee may take action on any of the following bills:

• SB 163, prohibiting local moratoria and limitations on building permits.
• SB 165, relative to the audit requirements for consumer cooperative associations.
• SB 166, relative to notice required prior to sale of a manufactured housing unit located in a resident-owned community.
• SB 170, (New Title) relative to development and related requirements in cities, towns, and municipalities.
• SB 174, prohibiting planning boards from considering the number of bedrooms a given unit or development has during the hearing and approval process.
• SB 188, allowing independent permitting and inspections, and allowing local governments to authorize licensed engineers and architects to perform building code inspections.
• SB 281, prohibiting municipalities from denying building or occupancy permits for property adjacent to class VI roads under certain circumstances.
• SB 282, relative to stairway requirements in certain residential buildings.
• SB 283, relative to the calculation of floor-area-ratios under local building ordinances.
• SB 84, relative to zoning procedures concerning residential housing.

10:20 AM – HB 342, relative to the approval process for new construction.

• What The Bill Does: This bill would allow a property owner to avoid seeking a variance for lot size or lot coverage if the density conforms to surrounding properties.
• Why It Matters: This proposal aims to create a process for context-based density that allows for flexibility within a municipality’s zoning ordinance if it’s within the existing context of the neighborhood. This could be impactful in older neighborhoods that may have existing non-conforming lots. 

10:40 AM – HB 60, relative to the termination of tenancy at the expiration of the tenancy or lease term.

• 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 will 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 for-cause legal precedent provides tenants with legal protections against discrimination and retaliatory evictions (ie. asking for repairs). 

1:00 PM – HB 1 and HB 2, the New Hampshire state budget.

• Read more in the introduction section of this newsletter.

The House of Representatives will meet for session next Thursday, May 8th. They will vote on the following housing-related bills:

• Senate Bill 173, adds clarity and simplifies the process for assessing Low Income Housing Tax Credit developments. SB 173 is on the consent calendar with unanimous committee support. 
• 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. SB 153 received a 14-2 OTP recommendation.

The Senate will meet for session next Thursday, May 8th. The Senate will consider the following housing-related 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 received a 5-1 OTP recommendation in the Commerce Committee. 
• House Bill 685, allows for manufactured homes to be treated just like any other type of single-family construction. HB 685 received a 5-1 OTP recommendation in the Commerce Committee.

The House of Representatives met for session yesterday. The House passed SB 284, which, as amended, limits parking requirements to no more than one spot per unit. The bill does not prohibit developers or property owners from constructing additional parking if needed. SB 284 passed on a bipartisan 197-144 vote. It will head back to the Senate for a concurrence or committee of conference vote. 

The Senate met for session yesterday, but did not have any priority housing bills on the calendar.

Saint Anselm College has launched a new Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice aimed at addressing New Hampshire’s housing shortage. For years, Saint Anselm College has actively engaged in the housing policy space, including through the development of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas. This new effort reaffirms the College’s commitment to housing policy and is led by Elissa Margolin, former Executive Director of Housing Action NH. 

Stay up to date on the latest from the new Saint Anselm College Initiative for Housing Policy and Practice by adding your name to their email list here.