Making the Connection Between Local Advocacy and State Policymaking

• How regional coalitions have provided an important conduit for educating stakeholders on how state legislation can affect housing issues at the local level.
• How regional and local advocates can provide testimony on important housing-related bills. The current system for testifying virtually makes it easier than ever to communicate with legislators and indicate opposition or support for particular pieces of legislation. (See the Monadnock Housing Roundtable website for a quick rundown on how to testify virtually.)
• How some regional coalitions have organized legislative breakfasts/listening sessions, which can provide an important forum for legislators to hear directly from their constituents.

Key Bills to Watch During the 2020-2021 Legislative Session

• SB 86. Establishes a Housing and Conservation Planning Program administered by the NH Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Program would provide technical assistance matching grants to municipalities “to plan for growth and development in a manner that permits a balanced housing stock.” Vermont’s Housing and Conservation Board provides an example of a similar program in a neighboring state.
• SB 127. This omnibus bill includes a provision to appropriate $5 million annually during the next two fiscal years for deposit in the state’s affordable housing trust fund. This additional appropriation would bring NH closer to parity with what neighboring states allocate to affordable housing.
• SB 140. Appropriates a sum of $18 million for the next two fiscal years to support homeless shelter case management services. Currently, it’s estimated that housing an individual in a shelter costs approximately $47/night, but shelters are reimbursed by Department of Health and Humans Services at a rate of about $8/night. This appropriation could support an increase in the reimbursement rate to about $20/night.
• HB 154. Extends the Community Revitalization Tax Relief Incentive to housing development in municipalities that have adopted the provisions under RSA 79-E.
• HB 288. Repeals the state’s housing appeals board, which provides an alternative process to the Superior Court for settling disputes between developers and municipalities. The board was created through legislation passed during the 2019-2020 session and began accepting appeals in January of 2020.
• HB 586. Dubbed informally as the “community toolkit bill,” HB 586 includes a wide range of provisions to support local policymaking and action on housing issues. The bill:
  • Charges the NH Office of Strategic initiatives with developing training materials for planning and zoning board members (participation in training is optional);
  • Mandates that local zoning incentives for senior housing must also be extended to workforce housing; requires that inclusionary zoning ordinance do not impact the “economic viability” of housing developments in comparison with developments that do not mandate housing affordability;
  • Extends the period of tax relief available to housing developments under RSA 79-E;
  • Makes various modifications to planning board procedures;
  • Grants authority to communities who have adopted a Municipal Economic Development and Revitalization District (RSA 162-K) to acquire real property through eminent domain for purposes of residential development;
  • Establishes a voluntary Housing Champion Certification Program for towns and cities.

Join the Discussion