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SB 217 · 2025 · Senate · Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee

Public notice of tax impacts

AI-generated

relative to public notice of historic tax rates and tax impacts of proposed projects.

Requires cities and towns to provide public notice of historical tax rates and the tax impacts of proposed building projects.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires cities and towns to provide public notice of historical tax rates and proposed building projects.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Cities and towns shall post a taxation graph that depicts tax rates over the past 10 years on the homepage of their official website and on any social media pages utilized by the city or town.”
RSA 31:103-c
“The graph shall include historical tax rates and the effective year-over-year rate change of the following:”
RSA 31:103-c
“Cities and towns shall post on the front page of their official websites, and official social media pages utilized by the city or town, a summary of all proposed taxpayer-funded building projects, including new buildings, schools, parks, and libraries.”
RSA 31:103-c
“The summary shall include statements of the average tax impact on a resident that will result from each proposed project.”
RSA 31:103-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Victoria SullivanRPrimeVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Rep. Ralph BoehmR

Public testimony

94 signed in online · 17 wrote testimony

13% support85% oppose2% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill provides better government transparency to us Granite Staters!”
— James Gardner, Keenesupports
“This bill could create an unfunded mandate around historical and potential project”
— James Mason, Hancockopposes
“OPPOSE SB217 Stop imposing statewide unfunded mandates on local communities! Robin Helrich Hopkinton”
— Robin Helrich, Hopkintonopposes
“I oppose this bill, local communities already have a hard time governing and finding people willing to do so. Please don’t make it more complicated than it has to be!”
— April Melo, South Hamptonopposes
“This is stupid. Tax rates are rendered MEANINGLESS by frequent revaluations. The only thing that matters is historic property taxes paid and any tailored tax exemptions secured by entities.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0521s5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-0521sadopted
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0521sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 28, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • May 8, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 18, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0521s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0521s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-0521s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government16:52–18:501m 58slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government2:02:24–2:04:492m 25slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 3
  2. Feb 18, 2025SenHearing: 02/18/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:30 am; SC 10
  3. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0521s, 03/06/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 11
  4. Mar 6, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-0521s, AA, VV; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  5. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-0521s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 11 P. 113
  7. Apr 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2025 10:15 am LOB 301-303
  8. Apr 28, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/28/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303
  9. Apr 28, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/28/2025 (Vote 17-1; CC) HC 23 P. 10
  10. May 8, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.