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CACR 12 · 2026 · Senate · Finance Committee

Constitutional ban on income tax

AI-generated

(New Title) the adoption of tax laws.

Prohibits the New Hampshire house of representatives from adopting a tax on wages, earned income, or other personal income, while still permitting taxation of businesses and other non-individual entities, pending voter approval in November 2026.AI-generated

Status

Adopted · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓On the ballot

Analysis

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution prohibits the house of representatives from adopting any tax on personal income.

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

“The house of representatives shall not adopt a tax on wages, earned income, personal income, or other income of individuals.”
From the bill
“This prohibition shall apply to any tax measured in whole or in part by personal income, regardless of its designation.”
From the bill
“Nothing in this article shall prohibit the taxation of businesses, corporations, or other non-individual entities as otherwise permitted under this constitution.”
From the bill
“To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2026 session of the general court shall be approved.”
From the bill

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Timothy LangRPrimeChair· Ways and Means
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. James GrayRChair· Finance
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRPresident Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRDeputy Majority Whip
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRVice Chair· Ways and Means
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Denise RicciardiRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

2,168 signed in online · 1,296 wrote testimony

41% support59% oppose0% neutral

ForPermanent ban protects the "New Hampshire Advantage"

AgainstRemoves flexibility for future legislatures to respond

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Ahoy hoy, Is taxation theft? Or is it extortion? Or is it legal plunder? These are philosophical questions. I am not a philosopher, nor am I a philanderer, nor am I any sort of Phil.…”
— Michael Granger, Milton Mills · Strafford 2supports
“I fully support CACR12. It is fair and reasonable to require 3/5 or 60% majority support in order to implement broad based taxes. In fact I think it would reasonable to require 80% support.”
— Michael Harkeem, Manchestersupports
“I write in strong support of CACR 12, which would require a supermajority vote to enact broad-based taxes. This constitutional amendment is essential to protect New Hampshire's competitive advantage and fiscal responsibility.…”
— Matthew Hutchins, Claremontsupports
“This resolution binds future legislatures and is unwise. An ideological preference for one type of tax or another is a matter to be debated, not placed in the fundamental constitution of our state for all time by legislative fiat.…”
— Tony Caplan, Henniker · Merrimack 8opposes
“I oppose this bill on the grounds that I believe majority rules, a 2/3 vote is not necessary.”
— CORY STONE, Doveropposes
“The free state project *really* won't rest until they've strangled every granite stater who makes less than six figures a year through property tax increases, will they?”
— Joshua Custer, Milton Millsopposes

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
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–2
    Overall
    71% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateRoll callOught to PassAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea
  • Apr 27, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1134h (NT)11–9
    Overall
    55% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Sweeney)adopted
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callAmendment 2026-1134hAdopted192–148How they voted
    Overall
    56% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    189–0100% yea
    Democrats
    3–1482% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callFloor amendment 2026-1903h (Rep. Oppel)Failed17–322How they voted
    Overall
    5% yea
    Republicans
    1–1881% yea
    Democrats
    16–13411% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1134hFailed193–148How they voted
    Overall
    57% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    189–199% yea
    Democrats
    4–1473% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingSenate Finance6:59–8:141m 15slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:35:43–4:37:542m 11slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, roll call 16-8
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:31:53–1:33:211m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means2:43:15–3:02:1519mlocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1134h
  • Apr 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means57:04–1:03:216m 17slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1134h (NT) — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:08:16–4:26:2618m 10slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1134h — failed, roll call 193-148; Amendment # 2026-1134h — adopted, roll call 192-148; FLAM # 2026-1903h (Rep. Oppel) — failed, roll call 17-322

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Finance; SJ 1
  2. Jan 27, 2026SenHearing: 01/27/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 3
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026, Vote 5-2; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass, RC 16Y-8N, MA, by Necessary 3/5; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026 SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 5
  6. Mar 9, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/09/2026 10:45 am GP 159
  7. Apr 15, 2026HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2026-1134h: 04/15/2026 03:00 pm SH Reps Hall
  8. Apr 27, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/27/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  9. Apr 27, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/27/2026 10:30 am GP 159
  10. Apr 27, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1134h (NT) 04/27/2026 (Vote 11-9; RC) HC 19 P. 29
  11. May 6, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  12. May 14, 2026HouseSpecial Order to next order of business (Rep. Sweeney): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 56
  13. May 14, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1134h: AA RC 192-148 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 57
  14. May 14, 2026HouseFLAM # 2026-1903h (Rep. Oppel): AF RC 17-322 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 59
  15. May 14, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1134h: MF RC 193-148 Lacking Necessary Three-Fifths Vote 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 63

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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