[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6579238,"mediaKeyId","3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc","parentId",3095169,"title","Senate committee amends homestead-exemption bill, increases single‑person cap and removes 'married couple' language","audioSeconds",491,"startMs",5169000,"endMs",5660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc&start=5169&end=5660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc/thumbnail_5169000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579238/New-Hampshire/Senate-committee-amends-homestead-exemption-bill-increases-singleperson-cap-and-removes-married-couple-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579238-a89a8d865ef6b00a3a92c6c9b09cf808/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141489&Signature=dltIQ7cEVgAxhucjAb0F1wns7XymA3FsGLeJNQ0I2LTzqDmIJJDr9z10fPIyBn0c~olyVU0FI6zHBSCMHlCEaT86t9Lg-NZaoxh0aiSvkI43snBoeLK61jvePRQOctg5v2V9I5BZRFA-jKj5Car3TkPjOsxR-VBc8lKmLpO-gi7mOugTij1LEZNFNJTr7sjuKsQ8aRD4NgBuCXGYlQ6bmqBDILQK5tU3KJ06qMj3js4mt237mnYI9971G0Kp81bfDQ~u9zSaefujS1O8Oc6a3Fzp-qTGRpA7Mi6Pgw9JC7-HiKgV8BxpXgEBH6nXrKHUAIH~Nk3BIbyiJ167u~-ntA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-04-23T15:04:18.58Z","article","The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 617 to change the homestead exemption structure, raising the exemption for a single person, removing language specific to married couples and allowing total exemptions for all persons with an interest in property to total no more than $500,000.

Senator Lang explained the committee compromise and proposed amendment changes, saying members wanted to modernize the statute and address equity for households with different structures. \"My recommendation is... _$350,000_ for a single person and no more than $500,000 total for all persons with an interest in the household,\" Lang said during the meeting, offering a drafting package to adjust previously adopted amendment language.

Under the committee's adopted changes the bill would: raise the single-person cap from $250,000 to $350,000; remove the phrase \"by a married couple\" and allow multiple exemptions but cap combined exemptions at $500,000 per property; and adjust cross-references later in the bill for consistency. Senators discussed recusal concerns; legal counsel advised that merely owning a house and having equity does not automatically require recusal.

Committee action: The committee voted the bill out as amended, with a subsequent consent vote recorded as 5–0. Senators who supported the amended motion said the changes reflected a modernized approach to household structure and recognized long-term homeowners' equity positions.

Ending: With the amendment adopted and the committee placing the bill on consent, HB 617 will proceed with the committee's recommended amended language. The committee record notes the amendment was drafted to keep implementation straightforward and to allow the committee to move the bill forward on consent.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Ways and Means (04/23/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Ways and Means Committee amended HB 617 to raise the single-person homestead exemption from $250,000 to $350,000, allow combined exemptions up to $500,000 for persons with an interest in the property, and remove language limited to 'married couple.' The committee voted the amended bill out on consent.","taxTitle","Judiciary, Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29511,"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},6579242,"Bill to reclassify power generators as businesses wins support from generators' trade groups",610,2485000,3095000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc&start=2485&end=3095","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc/thumbnail_2485000.jpg","/articles/6579242/New-Hampshire/Bill-to-reclassify-power-generators-as-businesses-wins-support-from-generators-trade-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579242-e04b62211654a9538d155023677eed13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141489&Signature=Js-lBtd32BykuuQb0AuPUXkzqS~1Ft2OpBDCDCtRIZzKOJFeoEe9wt2nVsSJLT5pcNK8r2wSeVTSeen7-Ca9~YDzxuh0tT8VDxeXsPPGvyz9UESXbYnhwHHTYr63pjck1hPewd4GdrOE0s2YwDzVhKRmzgJ7BybJaV5vzDXaNaFO2aFbicqC3oJLe-qzUk2U-VWdu7Z5gz-CFP1ms1yNwybM9hV~CE0LiuOINR-CbAf~bjkUBroEoh6SkmHVn7OKW3rz2q9Jpnkck7sdMputQeAlAmzh8itosGG19KKGG4IHMtIfXc~YTtKRaUrXGkMBTLVhdde7KZE-UFqg7uHurg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 696, grounded in a three-year study commission on electricity market structure, would reclassify non‑utility power generators for tax purposes and move them onto the statewide education property tax (often termed \"SWEPT\" in testimony). The sponsor and industry representatives told the Senate Ways and Means Committee the change corrects a longstanding anomaly that subjects generators to dual assessments and repeated litigation.

Representative Jordan Ellery, a House Ways and Means vice chair and a prime sponsor of HB 696, described the problem as an artifact of deregulation: \"The producers of electricity are not a public utility. They're a private enterprise that produce electrons,\" he said. He said the bill would recast generators as manufacturing facilities taxed like other commercial property and allow communities to receive property tax on the structures rather than rely on time-limited payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs). The bill would take effect in 2027, giving communities and operators time to transition, Ellery said.

Industry witnesses supported the bill as the study commission's consensus recommendation. Molly Connors of the New England Power Generators Association said New Hampshire is among a minority of states that subject generators to both local property tax and utility property tax; she called that \"duplicative and burdensome\" and estimated her members operate about 4,300 megawatts of capacity in New Hampshire. Mala Minow of the Granite State Hydropower Association said small hydropower owners also supported the change and emphasized the relief it would provide to smaller generators that now face two separate assessment and appeals processes.

Committee members were told the statute's current arrangement leads to repeated litigation and inconsistent valuation methods; the bill would move assessment responsibility to municipalities and reduce Department of Revenue involvement in plant valuations. Representative Ellery and witnesses emphasized the bill would not immediately terminate existing PILOT agreements; PILOTs would run out on their current schedule and the bill's implementation timing was structured to avoid abrupt changes for local governments.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing on HB 696 and indicated it will take the bill up in executive session next week. Witnesses emphasized the bill represents the study commission's consensus and asked the committee to adopt the commission's recommendation to reduce litigation and align tax treatment with other commercial property.","House Bill 696, a multi-year commission recommendation, would reclassify electric generators from utility to commercial taxation and move them onto the statewide education property tax (SWEPT); generators and hydropower groups told the committee the change would reduce duplicative assessments and litigation.",{"_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},6579246,"Senate Ways and Means backs bill to let treasurer invest small share of certain digital assets and precious metals",1906,3232000,5138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc&start=3232&end=5138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc/thumbnail_3232000.jpg","/articles/6579246/New-Hampshire/Senate-Ways-and-Means-backs-bill-to-let-treasurer-invest-small-share-of-certain-digital-assets-and-precious-metals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579246-43f4accef280d05e68d957880a63515d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141489&Signature=c783DKtTNs9pXiIzhymTv0BmR2dcN1oAq8PUTj43xQii6JWdF78PmJ4DZQqQta3ypXaDTKhubg06FIn2Fksdlp8e4JqOCdYLnZ7LFcPlHqgQWeHtlffgadFmfM6nFgzEhSbUJsxb2lOwOlqXrrrHETgd3CudMawPy8DbDIXiq0ucfFJxGt95cWQndcDjRNtgm5eqdqLPWAoYaFtPw5u8p~7lmA0iLe5WjNoIInu~mQaOR8alGTVNHamsdAMOUcAHYJYLZ1PG6KHfSCwQgsdgeONWdtC~L5aCHfgCVWcqWOuFvQyRexoLRhJgeVcdq1CZSn0dFpWDXud0tRzmtbV~zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard public testimony and then placed House Bill 302 on consent, recommending that the state treasurer be allowed to invest a limited portion of certain long-term state trust accounts in qualifying digital assets and precious metals.

Representative Keith Hammond, the House prime sponsor, told the committee the bill is \"enabling\" and would give the treasurer additional tools to protect purchasing power: \"This bill allows the state treasurer some more tools in the toolbox, not to second guess her judgment,\" Hammond said. The bill sets eligibility thresholds and custody rules: digital assets would have to meet a high market-capitalization threshold (an average market cap of at least $500 billion over the prior calendar year, the sponsor said) and an investment ceiling limiting allocations to a small percentage of a portfolio.

Committee witnesses described the scope and safeguards. Deputy Treasurer Lauren Warner said qualifying accounts would be long-term trust funds, not general operating cash or the rainy-day fund, and would be assessed against the treasury's priorities of safety, liquidity and return. \"Accounts that could qualify for this bill would essentially be some of our state trust funds accounts that are required to remain in perpetuity,\" Warner said, adding that the treasurer would not use short-term operating funds or the rainy day fund for these investments.

The New Hampshire Bankers Association's Ryan Hale asked the committee to consider emerging federal rules and to include safeguards such as collateralization requirements to preserve consistency with protections that banks already provide for state funds. He also cautioned the committee to consider the economic effect if public deposits are reallocated away from in‑state banks that use those deposits for lending to local businesses.

Representative Hammond and other witnesses said the bill limits risk by (1) restricting eligible assets to highly capitalized digital assets, (2) permitting custody by qualified custodians (including state- and federally-chartered banks), and (3) capping allocations (the amended version sets a 5 percent ceiling; proponents said the treasurer reviewed the amended cap). \"BlackRock recommends a 2% allocation into Bitcoin because it's an uncorrelated asset,\" an advocate testified during Q&A, and supporters said the exposure would be small and optional.

Committee action: after public and stakeholder testimony, the committee voted to place HB 302 on consent. Committee members noted it is enabling language and not a mandate; the treasurer would decide whether to use the new authority and how to implement it. The committee's consent vote was recorded as 5–0 in favor during the session.","The committee advanced HB 302, which authorizes the state treasurer to invest up to a capped percentage in well‑capitalized digital assets or precious metals for certain long‑term trust accounts; the bill passed the committee on consent.",{"_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},6579251,"Liquor Commission warns HB 2 changes could cut net transfers as commission defends enforcement division",817,621000,1438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc&start=621&end=1438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095169-002dd032ae9ffe2a9d2ead07ebf488cc/thumbnail_621000.jpg","/articles/6579251/New-Hampshire/Liquor-Commission-warns-HB-2-changes-could-cut-net-transfers-as-commission-defends-enforcement-division","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579251-f5e1988b54ba3749d50af510544280e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141489&Signature=aZTeBahzIu107tFhJrr4UgSsS0cyB4nxikfYTMq5CwroaCXUdVJU0ZzTOHTgvw2iSJct3LzoQDTbBXQ5DQKOX4wOJmlKEqZiOrmHIZsS-SwJzVC4isetx-DKZDEtCFL8nOYL-8x0Ywh-DwUQqIEj5GGRTexHtJOk1ny8wCCF4gxMAwr05GHIpaOgmHBZ4FsdERKLSyte2Q5E8Ss7wRv4V6Wx3jo2GsgNx4Gebk7ngkF355nOPGJRbJgaJe~x5bpGIqRK5YhR~Hc7A78N0oEZkomBcJ5C0dn-zsqIFfS-PzIkuYZTSsRmkgO-EZnrKqxt-9EJkFpEQ94rzcCTae-9Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Hampshire Liquor Commission told the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday that recent national trends and changes in state transfer language would affect commission revenues and program transfers under House-passed HB 2.

The commission chair, Joseph Malika, and Chief Financial Officer Tina Demers presented sales, enforcement and transfer data and said enforcement cuts and transfer changes in HB 2 would materially change the fund balance and operations. \"In 2024, the Liquor Commission generated $744,400,000,\" Demers said, citing FY24 figures and noting the commission is governed by RSA 176.3. She told the committee that House language removing two transfers would reclassify amounts that previously went to the Alcohol Abuse Prevention Fund and Granite Advantage (Medicaid expansion) as general-fund revenue, changing the pattern of transfers in the coming biennium.

The commission described several elements the committee should weigh. Demers said section 2 67–2 79 of HB 2 would eliminate the enforcement division, currently 19 full-time and 15 part-time positions, producing an estimated $3,000,000 in annual payroll savings in the House plan. \"The impact in enforcement plays a key role in promoting public safety,\" Demers warned, saying the enforcement division supports more than 6,000 licensees. She added that the enforcement division brought in about $18,000,000 in revenue and that removing sworn enforcement personnel could delay licensing, audits and inspections, which the commission argues would reduce overall sales and transfers over time.

Committee members pressed the commission on specifics. Senator Lang and others asked why the governor's revenue estimate differed from the commission's earlier projection; Malika said the governor's estimate reflected trends before a recent decline in alcohol sales and that the commission revised its estimates after seeing more recent data. The commission also identified one-time and ongoing cost drivers: a 10% pay raise that added roughly $9.5 million in FY24 and a $5 million depreciation charge tied to the NextGen retail/ERP rollout.

Demers provided additional program numbers: about 6,281 licensees overall; roughly 2,100 on-premise licenses and 2,100 off-premise licenses; 1,369 direct-ship licensees; curbside and in-store pickup accounted for about $12.2 million annually since 2020; and the commission reported 25,000 unique monthly website visitors. She said net profit margins, which historically ran about 19–21 percent, fell to about 17 percent in FY24, driven by higher personnel and system costs.

Committee members also questioned transfers tied to the Granite Advantage (Medicaid expansion). The commission said statutory language gives the Department of Health and Human Services a role in the transfer calculation and that prior changes shifted how the Liquor Commission's funds interact with HHS funding flows. Demers noted two transfers specifically called out in HB 2: roughly $10.7 million to the Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Fund and about $12.6 million that had been flowing toward Granite Advantage; the House draft would instead treat some of those amounts as general-fund revenue.

Members asked about the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds mentioned earlier in the hearing. A treasury witness explained agencies have contracts and obligations for ARPA funds and must spend or reallocate them within federal deadlines or return unused money, noting there is no financial penalty for returning funds but the preference is to avoid refunds to the federal government.

Ending: The committee did not vote on HB 2 language during this hearing but heard repeated warnings from the Liquor Commission that eliminating enforcement positions and changing transfer language would lower the commission's net contributions and could increase licensing delays and litigation risk. The commission asked the committee to consider restoring enforcement funding or accommodating the operational impacts before finalizing transfer language.","New Hampshire Liquor Commission presented fiscal trends to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, warning that House-passed HB 2 language that removes two transfers and eliminates the enforcement division could reduce net transfers to the general fund and raise operational risks for licensing and enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee amends homestead-exemption bill, increases single‑person cap and removes 'married couple' language

Bill to reclassify power generators as businesses wins support from generators' trade groups

Senate Ways and Means backs bill to let treasurer invest small share of certain digital assets and precious metals

Liquor Commission warns HB 2 changes could cut net transfers as commission defends enforcement division