HB 1516 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee
Tax bill spending charts and QR codes
AI-generated(New Title) allowing municipalities to vote to require that pie charts, bar charts, and QR codes be placed on property tax bills depicting where and how tax dollars are being allocated.
Requires municipalities to include pie charts, bar charts, and QR codes on property tax bills depicting how tax dollars are allocated.AI-generated
Status
Referred to interim study (Senate) · April 10, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✓House
- ✕Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill requires municipalities to produce pie charts, bar charts, and QR codes on property tax bills depicting where and how tax dollars are being allocated.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site
“II-a.(a) This paragraph shall only apply to municipalities that adopt the question posed in subparagraph (b) by majority vote of the legislative body.”
“If a town uses an official ballot system, the following question of adoption shall be placed on the official ballot at the annual town meeting as follows:”
““Shall this town rescind the provisions of RSA 76:11-a, II-a, requiring the posting of detailed property tax allocation information on the municipal website or publicly, including a pie chart, 10-year line graphs, and links to approved budgets and meeting minutes?” (d) If a town does not use an official ballot system, the question shall be considered and voted on at the town meeting.”
“In a city or town with a town council form of government, adoption shall occur by a majority vote of the city or town council, as applicable.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
- Rep. Mike DragoRMajority Whip
- Rep. Jason OsborneRMajority Leader
- Rep. Diane PauerRChair· Municipal and County Government
- Rep. Joe SweeneyRDeputy Majority Leader
- Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
Also: Rep. Matt DrewR, Rep. John SchnellerR, Sen. Tim McGoughR
Public testimony
32 signed in online · 7 wrote testimony
22% support78% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Transparency is important especially in relation to our property taxes and where it all going.”
“More information is always good, and some people are more visual learners that find charts easier to understand.”
“Please reconsider the QR code part. One should not need to buy a smart phone with apps that will sell their data just so they can see where their property taxes are being spent.…”
“While transparency is never a bad thing, I oppose this bill as written as it will increase costs for my town(Dalton) by requiring additional hours for our lone town office employee to produce these Concord specified items.…”
“This bill seems to require municipalities to produce pie charts, bar charts, and QR codes on property tax bills depicting where and how tax dollars are being allocated. Are you kidding me? Stop requiring more and more of cities and towns and do your own jobs!”
“Suggest you modify the text to not specify the type of data visualization (i.e. pie charts, bar charts). Best practices in data visualization should be deployed based on the context = leveraging size, shape, color, etc.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0610h (NT)11–6Overall65% yea
- Resulting text: Bill as amended by the HouseOverall52% yea
- Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–0Overall100% yea
- Apr 16, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 30, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:22:45–5:23:541m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:43:08–5:44:141m 6slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0610h (NT) — roll call; Executive Session
- Mar 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0610h — adopted, division 176-160; Amendment # 2026-0610h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
- Apr 7, 2026Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs3:43–16:1912m 36slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Apr 16, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 24
- Jan 30, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/30/2026 11:25 am GP 154
- Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
- Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0610h (NT) 02/17/2026 (Vote 11-6; RC) HC 10 P. 68
- Feb 27, 2026HouseMinority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
- Mar 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0610h (NT): AA VV 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 44
- Mar 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0610h: MA DV 176-160 03/12/2026 HJ 8 P. 45
- Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
- Apr 7, 2026SenHearing: 04/07/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 13
- Apr 16, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 04/16/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 14
- Apr 16, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/16/2026; SJ 9
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.