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HB 1385 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Banning negative property tax rates

AI-generated

prohibiting the use of negative property tax rates in certain municipalities.

Prohibits the department of revenue administration from accepting negative tax rates for any locality with minimal or no public education cost in its budget that contains taxable property.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits the department of revenue administration from accepting any negative tax rates for any locality which has minimal or no public education cost in its budget but contains taxable property.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The department of revenue administration shall be prohibited from accepting or setting any negative tax rates for any locality which has minimal or no public education cost in its budget but contains taxable property.”
RSA 21-J:35-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jay MarkellRPrime
  • Rep. Bob LynnRChair· Judiciary
  • Rep. Wayne MacDonaldRChair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Jodi NelsonRClerk· Children and Family Law

Also: Rep. Lilli WalshR

Public testimony

4 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

50% support50% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“So these "Republicans" want taxes to only go up? They would never allow tax rates to come down.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate17–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government52:22–53:591m 37slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government1:10:39–1:16:546m 15slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor 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 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 18
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 09:15 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 9 P. 22
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 29

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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