[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6349981,"mediaKeyId","2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2","parentId",2235267,"title","Committee hears competing views on HB 585, which would broaden religious property tax exemptions","audioSeconds",1286,"startMs",2244105,"endMs",3530815,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2&start=2244&end=3530","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2/thumbnail_2244105.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349981/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-competing-views-on-HB-585-which-would-broaden-religious-property-tax-exemptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349981-211b6f9a9ec78d4bdf78b5d88121910e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395650&Signature=ktrnidBlluuo4B4S7iqX7REDqBON88YPLDP5mSZI3AOwUdDpXpccP8iT~VYCAeShLMSHc-wZsVlP5OcVgy7p9nLrUBKq8oqbf0MTKhmBH5D8N7XTR2ARe8wfzN0b1TlgqcyGJzkBDBEtIcYWfwGqkPDtSf7modZtQuWsMc2xMedA34xvdfcv-IcILzn20R0LbOMATwHvrpvGbpAQwYUIel8GB66Q9GDvP76uTzp0VSuGdy1Qkf4UCNJhtG21Oafc5vB7rAtrL0FEmP8esxIKO3mVtvnsJDhqOdxGNt5TneUwp3NUYI8zi0ksgLM9FGoZHgbepe0Fh4tW2BfV5EBB3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","NH House of Representatives Committee","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 585, introduced by Representative John Janigian (Rockingham District 25), proposes to clarify and expand property tax exemptions for religious organizations under RSA 72:23 by allowing a single parsonage and the main worship building to remain exempt when rented, provided revenue is used for pastoral pay, maintenance or church programs.

Janigian told the Ways and Means Committee his Arret Armenian Congregational Church in Salem faced a situation in which the congregation could not support a full‑time pastor and the parsonage was vacant; that change prompted an assessor to tax the parsonage and the congregation now pays roughly $4,000 a year. \"We used the phraseology... and that's why we used it,\" Janigian said of the bill's language referencing \"standard religious programs,\" noting a drafting attorney relied on existing statutory phrasing.

Former Representative Betty Gay and other supporters said the bill reflects long‑standing practices: resettled congregations often rely on parsonages and modest rental income to support ministry and maintenance. Supporters argued the measure aims to help small congregations while limiting potential exploitation by capping exemptions to one parsonage and one main worship building per organization.

The New Hampshire Municipal Association (represented by Brad Deshaies) opposed the bill, saying it expands mandated tax exemptions that shift costs to municipalities and noted the Board of Tax and Land Appeals (BTLA) decisions prompted stricter assessor practices across the state. The Municipal Association warned the bill creates reporting burdens and cited the phrase \"standard religious programs\" as undefined in RSA 72:23, which could invite inconsistent interpretation and more BTLA appeals.

Committee members asked about definitions and enforcement. Janigian said the bill was drafted to parallel existing statutory language, but several members urged legislative services to confirm precedent and definitions used by the BTLA. No formal committee vote was recorded during the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means (02/05/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 585 would allow a single parsonage and the church's main worship building to retain a property tax exemption in more circumstances, and permit limited rental of space when revenue is used for pastoral pay, maintenance or church programs.","taxTitle","Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17769,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349966,"Contentious hearing on HB 635: sponsor seeks to remove nonprofit status for groups that 'settle' undocumented migrants; opponents call for ITL",3809,14810945,18620139,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2&start=14810&end=18620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2/thumbnail_14810945.jpg","/articles/6349966/New-Hampshire/Contentious-hearing-on-HB-635-sponsor-seeks-to-remove-nonprofit-status-for-groups-that-settle-undocumented-migrants-opponents-call-for-ITL","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349966-f033f394518c8dfe5cd7781f8d71785c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395650&Signature=e0Ek~3YwGYXca-a9Xl71iUgDoG-Tg1SpjaoUXMAZVJPSiSUcFO~ChDtCtYR8BZHeupAyaf8AFE25RwKtHmI5Iuq4BhjKbxN8QF8Q5xwmGparhUcb8S1QV~NFZaUQbV64exI5uPmhYIufz56usOJ0ydV5BtwpsNqxnGrHbbZltaKkSte62joDeL8E2ID6USxQlGPs1FF8dv7ArCF-WjQm0uW3Q~BJ38xJWWSDnvceZt4kt8VgOhqTmoe-wuF9i59upzM4j4X2Wq2Ez-KczuIaDrmw6mIUbNoXMAu3uMWHVdRTn4JtxtEvnrHu61LpfeLmV0A3PNoHjCFD~G4iZKR5Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Travis Corcoran introduced House Bill 635, which would bar nonprofit (state tax‑exempt) status for organizations whose activities \"settle or resettle\" undocumented noncitizens, or that knowingly facilitate or employ undocumented migrants in settlement work. \"Nonprofit status is not a right of any entity,\" Corcoran told the committee; he framed the bill as a policy decision about which activities the state should subsidize through tax exemptions.

Supporters at the microphone said sizable nonprofit networks receive public dollars to assist migration and resettlement, and argued the state should not extend tax privileges to organizations that facilitate the settlement of persons the sponsor characterized as \"illegal aliens.\" Representative Donald Macfarlane and several private citizens urged the panel to retain and study the bill further, arguing that NGOs' revenue models create incentives to expand settlement activity and that better transparency and accountability are needed.

Opponents included refugee resettlement groups and local nonprofit operators. Rick Menard, executive director of Building Community in New Hampshire, explained that refugee resettlement is a federally managed program and that his organization is paid under federal contract for services to people with documentation; he urged legislators to reject the measure or send it to study. Menard and other witnesses said the bill conflates federal refugee resettlement and services to people without documentation and would penalize organizations doing federally funded work. Several witnesses also urged that criminal enforcement and immigration status are federal responsibilities.

Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) staff explained administrative implications: under the bill DRA might investigate nonprofit status determinations and would treat complaints like other suspected tax‑exempt‑status irregularities; DRA asked for clearer base definitions and noted that consolidated federal return data and combined reporting rules complicate attributing activity across interlocking entities. Committee members pressed sponsors about standards (for example, whether a single instance of assistance would strip tax status) and enforcement mechanics; the sponsor said the bill aims at organizations whose activities are primarily focused on settling undocumented persons. No committee vote was taken; members said the bill will require further drafting, legal review, and possible fiscal analysis.","HB 635 would deny New Hampshire nonprofit tax status to organizations whose activities \"settle\" or resettle undocumented noncitizens; the bill prompted a lengthy, often heated public hearing with advocates and nonprofit operators sharply divided.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349971,"HB 737 would give municipalities a local option on games of chance; debate centers on opt‑in vs opt‑out and grandfathering",2800,11338295,14139186,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2&start=11338&end=14139","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2/thumbnail_11338295.jpg","/articles/6349971/New-Hampshire/HB-737-would-give-municipalities-a-local-option-on-games-of-chance-debate-centers-on-optin-vs-optout-and-grandfathering","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349971-5dd0cbbecaffe262ea9937aa8d43d0e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395650&Signature=ZnfYh8mLcn~S32kcuaWsjbVNtvIXH1p09zh4mEJezyhTcHSlxyY8O2e8W~jqjT7jsHyi63j9vlzjxpDzCuEllO57lHf82oRKJCNfMyOUuNsU3z9GPkwsUaDYc6Lm~ZBuHxYM4Sf8c3FQZBpg3TPL3bgYNBQsfJLUySm68HXjOVWC~f0QTcNXwsq5F3CHYWHXoL4shtzd6xX7P7LgtdYLEp2-FuqV8tvmohwaXIS8rtRCmP32xcnCmRl2HZmjGTl51OUWriYNIMrfCAgmpX18caHySRkzsxWC17qVvcL~UcWPPfkXr8X0tfkm4w96rVjfYyo3KGwGnaYvscTlcFR5Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Jerry Stringham presented House Bill 737 as a local‑control measure to allow municipalities to opt in or opt out of games of chance and brick‑and‑mortar gaming facilities. He characterized the measure as a facility‑level local option, not a prohibition on specific games, modeled after existing local option authority for Keno and other lottery products. The sponsor said a similar bill passed the House overwhelmingly in the prior biennium but did not survive the committee of conference.

Supporters — including former Representative Pat Abrahami, former Littleton select‑people and local citizens — said local voters should be able to weigh whether the character and economic profile of their towns are compatible with large gaming facilities. Abrahami and others said the measure should protect existing licensed facilities (grandfathering) while giving future host communities an ability to approve or prohibit new operations; some witnesses preferred an opt‑in design while others accepted an opt‑out compromise.

Opponents raised concerns about the bill's practical effects on charities that use gaming revenue and said zoning tools already permit local regulation in many towns. Testimony from industry and charitable gaming representatives noted that charitable gaming operations and historic‑racing facilities are regulated differently under current statute and that any new local option should be carefully drafted to avoid unintended consequences for existing licensees.

Several witnesses proposed technical changes — including explicit language about grandfathering facilities that already hold lottery or operator licenses and clarifying the abandonment period before a ban would apply. The committee received the testimony and no vote was taken at the hearing.","HB 737 would allow municipalities to decide by local vote whether to permit games of chance and brick‑and‑mortar gaming facilities in their borders, with supporters arguing local voters deserve a say and others warning about impacts on charities and existing licensees.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349976,"Proposed enterprise tax on gaming facilities draws opposition from industry and municipal groups",2392,4568130,6960220,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2&start=4568&end=6960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2/thumbnail_4568130.jpg","/articles/6349976/New-Hampshire/Proposed-enterprise-tax-on-gaming-facilities-draws-opposition-from-industry-and-municipal-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349976-6d72624b4057c0e42494f5c347862b18/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395650&Signature=lEILRe1Wt7O-k39Z0kiK9kDCpyGsysA6bUEEmri6TYJ2agpEaFWTd0E~lbHQapVPSaymU-3dhsjZEMipO91cmfmMIqYaOMnEtURcCpj~5OBokTcX8rBTQk5yJVGTtwwcs4kKgoybNfATlWwSEQOhlS9j3qLcuaZASWsU6F0~k0tyPieUz7c810Nrfc69egA75wxtLpkoqHPHLpzqfyhvfLpYcjFNGyEzhr8T~9BhxNFrRFHhB9~ZHsvi9AvU6TQF6H1lYGruh5IGzsS8AS4hayxqF9aTlHlIyTbpCrjt1Qe5HjGjF1l0prGi5ef9nhp3NE2E56hDHqvhuSfdsR6Hbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bill Ohm presented House Bill 688, proposing a local option \"enterprise tax\" aimed at offsetting community costs cities and towns face when hosting large charitable gaming or historic horse racing facilities. Ohm focused on Nashua's planned large facility and cited academic literature on long‑term community costs tied to casinos — including crime and other social impacts — to justify mitigation payments to host municipalities.

Ohm said the proposal is a short‑term, stopgap way to provide mitigation to host communities while a comprehensive casino bill is lacking. The draft language would allow municipalities to levy an enterprise tax on historic racing and charitable gaming facilities with 100 or more machines; testimony characterized the tax as an amount equal to up to twice the assessed property value of the facility. Ohm estimated the measure could generate substantially more local revenue than current property assessments would yield, though opponents called the proposal punitive and constitutionally suspect.

Pat Abrahami and Alicia Preston, representing operators and the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association, opposed the bill. Preston told the committee municipal taxation targeted at a single industry is unprecedented, argued that charitable gaming facilities already pay property, business and other state taxes, and said the proposal would harm charities that rely on gaming revenue. Abrahami called the proposed tax \"picking on 1 industry,\" said the draft language as written could yield unrealistic tax calculations, and cited the charitable gaming commission's earlier recommendation not to raise facility license fees.

Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) staff and Lottery officials attended to clarify how an \"assessed property value\" would be determined and whether the DRA has rulemaking or administrative authority for a new enterprise tax. DRA asked for clearer statutory language about whether the measure intended to use locally reported assessed value (the PA‑28) or another base and raised implementation questions about opt‑in/opt‑out drafting. DRA said they did not view the measure as technically impossible but would need clear base definitions and authority to implement collection procedures.

No committee vote or action was taken at the hearing; the committee received extensive testimony both for and against and several members urged further study and technical drafting before any committee recommendation.","Rep. Bill Ohm introduced HB 688 proposing a municipal enterprise tax on large historic‑racing or charitable gaming facilities to provide mitigation payments to host communities; the proposal drew strong industry and municipal opposition in committee testimony.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349985,"Committee advances HB 650 to clean up state dedicated funds, caps robotics account",914,492915,1407250,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2&start=492&end=1407","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235267-12c91b7923ba1d04a2352820f49a94e2/thumbnail_492915.jpg","/articles/6349985/New-Hampshire/Committee-advances-HB-650-to-clean-up-state-dedicated-funds-caps-robotics-account","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349985-08bd6b1db00a9cb9688f95b33c4d788a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775395650&Signature=hFSwBAZLehWVlgoMxlJ~cWSq2b5p03Q89RQNYWzqdX1rsehPrVDeP5~EIVdpZh81WC6i2bBtECjf-AJu-DvohHYWpIV0ORi3xRCN12ot0WSpjVHZPJglM17qzakilmg2BQDgW~JQlQN6qlrl5H9SCBD1oIrUrDq1H2T2Ilg95FauvkMYfzhAcOUoxQEgbCKzYVpgQ~nj1kx-SSEfY3C3seLAdygH6WUI-ll5zbhT4z4cx9IZ6p4hZO0PGQiUVcjw6XenH7KQ6ObnZ9wUBCILk-ex845Bc3rq92GYXH4BA~LJ4EnP7ElFOq1I-ceDatNU~sSMghF3pslRr01Se8qJRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday recommended that House Bill 650, a bill to revise several dedicated funds in state law, \"ought to pass\" after a public hearing and executive session.

The bill, presented in public testimony by Dan Maguire, chair of the Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds, would remove references to funds already repealed from RSA 6:12, create a separate dedicated account for Cannon Mountain winter activities distinct from other state parks accounts, and place a cap on the robotics education dedicated fund so that no more than $1 million can accumulate there; any excess would lapse back to the general fund. \"This year we created 2 bills,\" Maguire told the committee, describing the measure as the non-technical cleanup remaining after the committee's five‑year review of dedicated funds.

Committee member Susan Almeid (City of Lebanon) told the panel the parks change is largely an accounting separation that makes the winter activities at Cannon Mountain easier to track, and said high schools had been receiving robotics grants from a fund that has been underspent relative to annual deposits. The $1 million cap was described in testimony as a practical limit to avoid timing problems when revenues and expenditures occur at different points in the fiscal year.

In executive session Representative Susan Almi moved the \"ought to pass\" report for HB 650 (FN); Representative Elberger seconded. The clerk reported a vote tally of 16 in favor, 0 opposed. Committee leadership placed the bill on the consent calendar after the vote.

The bill does not change how park operations are run, according to testimony, but will split the single parks account so winter (Cannon Mountain) activity is shown separately from other park activity. The robotics provision removes non‑lapsing status while allowing up to $1 million to accumulate before lapsing the remainder to the general fund; the committee discussed the limit as a Senate suggestion to avoid intra‑year timing shortfalls.

The committee framed most of the changes as housekeeping and administrative adjustments discovered during its statutory review cycle; Maguire said the Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds examines 20% of dedicated funds each year on a five‑year rotation. Supporters in testimony characterized the parks change as primarily accounting clarity, while the robotics cap was described as a modest policy change to limit a growing balance.

The committee took no up‑or‑down amendments in public session and advanced the bill as reported.","The House Ways and Means Committee recommended HB 650 \"ought to pass\" after public testimony and executive session. The bill removes references to repealed funds, creates a separate Cannon Mountain winter fund for state parks, and caps the robotics education dedicated fund at $1 million with excess reverting to the general fund.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears competing views on HB 585, which would broaden religious property tax exemptions

Contentious hearing on HB 635: sponsor seeks to remove nonprofit status for groups that 'settle' undocumented migrants; opponents call for ITL

HB 737 would give municipalities a local option on games of chance; debate centers on opt‑in vs opt‑out and grandfathering

Proposed enterprise tax on gaming facilities draws opposition from industry and municipal groups

Committee advances HB 650 to clean up state dedicated funds, caps robotics account