PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THESE BILLS REGARDING HOUSING AND MUNICIPAL ISSUES BEFORE THEIR HEARING DATES
Even if a bill has already had its hearing, you can still send your testimony by email because a decision whether to recommend the bill is not made immediately.
On October 30, 2019 the Governor announced a plan to force towns to include more high-density/low-income housing by placing mandates on zoning and planning boards, force training in the area of ‘urbanism’ by unelected, unaccountable private interest lobbies, and at the same time, vowed to give massive rewards to developers who propose high-density projects in the form of subsidies and tax deferments. These tax deferments will only place a further tax burden on the single-family homeowners of a town.
Download this PDF with more information about the Governor’s plan.
The timeline of events concerning this matter:
HOUSING APPEALS BOARD
In 2018, a bill (SB 557) to create a Housing Appeals board failed. The board would have allowed developers to override any decision made by ANY board in a town (including zoning and planning boards, school boards, historic district commissions, and conservation commissions) regarding building projects.
In 2019, another similar bill (HB 104) to create an HAB was killed in committee. The HAB was seen as an egregious usurpation of local control.
Later in 2019, three Republicans in the NH Senate and the House minority leader slipped into the budget their own HAB bill (SB 306) which they knew would not pass the House. It is to take effect in July of 2020 IF NOT REPEALED and will be used to make decisions for towns under certain circumstances, such as if a timeline for approval is not met or a developer is not happy with a decision.
SB 735 is Senator Birdsell’s bill to repeal the Housing Appeals Board. It has bi-partisan support from the House and Senate. It should be SUPPORTED. There are others listed that could also be supported, but SB 735 is the only one with a simple repeal and no other strings attached. (see below)
TAKE ACTION ON HOUSING BILLS COMING UP FOR HEARINGS
THESE BILLS WILL BE HEARD BEFORE THE HOUSE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
(*Bills are part of Governor’s Plan)
EMAIL HouseMunicipalandCountyGovt@leg.state.nh.us ASK THEM TO ITL or OTP THE FOLLOWING.
HB 1450: relative to the powers of the zoning board of adjustment. [Zoning Board members have told us they do not recommend this bill.]
(OPPOSE/ITL – HEARING ON 01/15/2020 10:00 AM)
*HB 1629: relative to training and procedures for zoning and planning boards. [Retraining” of zoning and planning boards in ‘new urbanism’ policies, mandating timelines for housing decisions with threat of sending to HAB, mandating types of housing, and more.]
(OPPOSE/ITL – HEARING ON 01/21/2020 09:30 AM)
*HB 1632: relative to financial investments and incentives for affordable housing development. [Perks and tax breaks for developers who build high-density.]
(OPPOSE/ITL – HEARING ON 01/21/2020 10:30 AM)
HB 1248: relative to community revitalization tax relief incentives. [Another bill promoting developer tax incentives.]
(OPPOSE/ITL – HEARING ON 01/21/2020 11:30 AM)
HB 1309: relative to the effect of warrant articles. [Requires towns and school districts to be bound by votes on petitioned warrant articles.]
(SUPPORT/OTP – NO HEARING DATE YET)
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HOUSING BILLS TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
(Use drop-down menu on page to see bills currently assigned to this committee)
EMAIL the committee and ask them to ITL: (Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us; Lou.Dallesandro@leg.state.nh.us; Chuck.Morse@leg.state.nh.us; Bob.Giuda@leg.state.nh.us; Jeanne.Dietsch@leg.state.nh.us; sonja.caldwell@leg.state.nh.us)
SB 475 – enabling municipalities to adopt a property tax credit for densely-built workforce housing.
(OPPOSE/ITL- HEARING ON 1/15/2020 at 9:45 AM in Senate Hearing Room 100)
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HOUSING BILLS TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
(Use drop-down menu on page to see bills currently assigned to this committee)
(Martha.Hennessey@leg.state.nh.us; Shannon.Chandley@leg.state.nh.us; Melanie.Levesque@leg.state.nh.us; Sharon.Carson@leg.state.nh.us; Harold.French@leg.state.nh.us; jennifer.horgan@leg.state.nh.us)
SB 735: repealing the housing appeals board. [This is the ideal repeal bill with no strings attached.]
(SUPPORT/OTP HEARING ON 1/28/2020 at SH Rm 100)
SB 721: relative to court review of planning board decisions and making an appropriation therefor. This bill eliminates the housing appeals board and modifies the deadline for superior court action on appeals from the zoning board of adjustment.
(SUPPORT/OTP HEARING ON 1/28/2020 at SH Rm 100)
SB 487: repealing the housing appeals board and establishing a commission to advance affordable housing in New Hampshire.[Repeals the HAB but still seeks to advance high-density construction.]
(OPPOSE/ITL – NO HEARING DATE YET) (referred by Election Law and Municipal Affairs)
SB 536: establishing a committee to study the housing appeals board. [Should a repeal not pass, this committee could explore the issue more.]
(SUPPORT/OTP – HEARING ON 2/11/2020 in SH Rm 100 at 9:50 AM) (referred by Election Law and Municipal Affairs)