New Hampshire HB 1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and making appropriations therefor.

Bill Text

HB 1786-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2921

 06/09

HOUSE BILL 1786-FN

AN ACT relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and making appropriations therefor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Muns, Rock. 29; Rep. Booras, Hills. 8; Rep. de Vries, Rock. 29; Rep. Hegner, Hills. 41; Rep. Howland, Straf. 20; Rep. Lane, Merr. 16; Rep. D. Paige, Carr. 1; Rep. Preece, Hills. 17; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Stavis, Graf. 13; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Housing

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ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Establishes a framework to expand affordable housing and housing-related infrastructure through financing, tax credits, workforce development, and municipal incentives.

 II. Establishes a multi-stakeholder commission to study how to leverage the state’s borrowing power to provide below-market financing for housing and infrastructure, including recommendations for a dedicated investment fund.

 III. Expands the community development finance authority’s investment tax credit program in phased amounts from FY 2026 to FY 2033, exclusively for housing and housing-related infrastructure projects.

 IV. Offsets the expanded tax credits by transferring equivalent revenue from a new luxury second home state assessment.

 V. Appropriates $15 million to the state workforce innovation fund to support building trades training, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and supplemental apprentice wages.

 VI. Provides designated municipalities with access to grants, loans, expedited approvals, and financing tools to encourage housing production and infrastructure development.

 VII. Creates a nonlapsing fund to support municipal demolition of vacant or dilapidated buildings, administered by the department of business and economic affairs.

 VIII. Establishes a fund to assist regional planning commissions in updating housing needs assessments and fair share models.

 IX. Imposes a semi-annual assessment on residential properties over $1 million not used as a primary residence, with proceeds allocated to multiple housing-related programs and planning efforts

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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.

 26-2921

 06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and making appropriations therefor.

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

 1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the "Fair Chance for Everyone Housing Development Act". 

 2 Statement of Purpose. The general court hereby finds that: 

 I. The lack of affordable single-family homes and apartments is generally regarded as one– if not, the most important – issues facing our state. 

 II. The 2023 Statewide Housing Assessment published by the New Hampshire housing authority said that based on estimated population growth, we will need an additional 60,000 units of housing in our state before 2030 and a total of 90,000 units before 2040. 

 III. There are many aspects to the problem and there is not one simple solution. State government will not “solve” this problem, but it can provide incentives to local authorities and the private sector to collaborate and address this challenge head on. This act hopes to provide some of those incentives. 

 3 New Chapter; Fair Chance for Everyone Housing Development. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 21-V the following new chapter: 

CHAPTER 21-W

FAIR CHANCE FOR EVERYONE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

 21-W:1 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to address New Hampshire’s urgent housing shortage by leveraging state financing capacity, expanding investment incentives, and supporting municipal and workforce development programs to increase the supply of affordable housing and housing-related infrastructure. 

 21-W:2 Commission Established; Housing and Infrastructure Financing. 

 I. There is established a commission to study how to fully leverage the borrowing power of the state to provide below-market financing for housing development and related infrastructure. 

 II. The commission shall consist of: 

 (a) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house.

 (b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

 (c) The state treasurer, or designee.

 (d) The executive director of the business finance authorit