New Hampshire HB 1787: modifying the statewide education property tax.

Bill Text

HB 1787-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3072

 07/08

HOUSE BILL 1787-FN

AN ACT modifying the statewide education property tax. 

SPONSORS: Rep. Ames, Ches. 13; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Preece, Hills. 17; Rep. Cornell, Hills. 22; Rep. Oppel, Graf. 9; Rep. Almy, Graf. 17; Rep. Hakken-Phillips, Graf. 12; Rep. E. Kelly, Merr. 8; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: Ways and Means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Requires that statewide education property tax revenues be collected and remitted to the state treasurer for deposit into the education trust fund.

 II. Makes changes to the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program.

 III. Creates a committee to study the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3072

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT modifying the statewide education property tax. 

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

 1 Taxation; Apportionment, Assessment and Abatement of Taxes; Education Tax. Amend RSA 76:3 to read as follows: 

 76:3 [Education Tax] Uniform Statewide Education Property Tax. 

 I. Beginning July 1, [2005] 2027, and every fiscal year thereafter, with adjustments as may be required by this section, the commissioner of the department of revenue administration shall set the state education tax rate at a level sufficient to generate revenue of [$363,000,000] $378,000,000 when imposed on all persons and property taxable pursuant to RSA 76:8, except property subject to tax under RSA 82 and RSA 83-F. The education property tax rate shall be effective for the following fiscal year. The rate shall be set to the nearest 1/2 cent necessary to generate the revenue required in this section. This amount shall be increased annually by 2 percent and rounded up to the nearest $100 by the commissioner of the department of revenue administration. 

 II. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, uniform statewide education property tax revenues paid shall be levied pursuant to a uniform statewide rate and shall be collected and remitted to the state treasurer for deposit into the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39. 

 III. Deposits into the education trust fund made under paragraph II shall exclusively fund, in whole or in part, education grants as determined by the department of education pursuant to RSA 198:41, costs associated with providing tax bills pursuant to RSA 76:11-a, and homeowners property tax relief pursuant to RSA 198:57. 

 2 Taxation; Apportionment, Assessment and Abatement of Taxes; Commissioner's Warrant. Amend RSA 76:8, II to read as follows: 

 II. The commissioner shall issue a warrant under the commissioner's hand and official seal for the amount computed in paragraph I to the selectmen or assessors of each municipality by December 15 directing them to assess such sum and [pay it to the municipality for the use of the school district or districts] pay all revenue received to the department of revenue administration, for deposit in the education trust fund established in RSA 198:39, for education grants as determined in RSA 198:41 and property tax homeowner relief payments as determined in RSA 198:57. Such payments shall be made in 4 quarterly installments in accordance with schedules, standards, and procedures established by rules adopted by the department of revenue administration, in accordance with RSA 541-A, after consultation with the commissioner of education. Such sums shall be assessed at such times as may be prescribed for other taxes assessed by such selectmen or assessors of the municipality. 

 3 Taxation; Apportionment, Assessment and Abatement of Taxes; Information. Amend RSA 76:11-a, II to read as follows: 

 II. The tax bill shall also contain a statement informing the taxpayer of the types of tax relief for which the taxpayer has the right to apply. The statement shall explicitly list the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program established in RSA 198:57 and include information on how to apply for the program. The following statement shall be considered adequate:

 "If you are elderly, disabled, blind, a veteran, or veteran's spouse, or are unable to pay taxes due to poverty or other good cause, you may be eligible for a tax exemption, credit, abatement, or deferral, which may reduce your current property tax bill. For details, [and] application information, and application de