New Hampshire HB 1567: relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.

Bill Text

HB 1567 - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2470

 06/05

HOUSE BILL 1567

AN ACT relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.

SPONSORS: Rep. Durkin, Coos 1; Rep. A. Davis, Coos 2; Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Tierney, Coos 1

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

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ANALYSIS

 This bill clarifies that the assessed value for the use of public rights-of-way by telecommunications infrastructure shall include a calculation based on the average per acre value of adjacent land and the total length of class I, II, IV, and V roads.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2470

 06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Valuation of Telecommunications Poles and Conduits; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 72:8-c to read as follows:

 72:8-c Valuation of Telecommunications Poles and Conduits; Rulemaking.

 I. The value of wooden poles or conduits employed in the transmission of telecommunications owned in whole or in part by telephone utilities, as described in RSA 362:7, or providers of Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") service or IP-enabled service, each as defined in RSA 362:7, or commercial mobile radio services, for purposes of tax assessment against said entity, shall be determined by the following formula: the Replacement Cost New (RCN) of the telecommunications pole or conduit, less depreciation calculated on a straight-line basis for a period of 40 years with a residual value of 20 percent without applying the annual equalization ratio.

 II. In addition to the appraisal determined under paragraph I, the assessed value for the use of public rights-of-way shall be equal to the average assessed per acre value of adjacent land multiplied by the total length of all class I, II, IV, and V roads, as determined by the department of transportation in the previous year, divided by 43,560.

 III. On or before July 1 of the tax year, the department of revenue administration shall provide to every municipality a schedule of telecommunications pole and conduit RCN, using national published telecommunications standard cost data guides calculated annually using a 5-year rolling average.

 [III.] IV. The commissioner of the department of revenue administration shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to how telecommunications pole and conduit RCN shall be established, including a process for receiving public input prior to such establishment.

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.