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Hearing on SB 179: Formalize administrative attachment for Council on Housing Stability, housing groups ask to add partners
Summary
Sen. James Gray introduced SB 179 to administratively attach the State Council on Housing Stability to the Department of Health and Human Services, with supporters urging small statutory changes to add New Hampshire Housing and private‑sector seats.
Sen. James Gray introduced Senate Bill 179 to administratively attach the State Council on Housing Stability to the Department of Health and Human Services. Supporters told the Senate committee that the change formalizes an operational relationship already in place and would help the council coordinate state housing strategy.
Katie Easterly Marte, executive director of the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA), said CDFA currently co‑leads the council alongside DHHS and the Department of Business and Economic Affairs. She asked the committee to consider adding New Hampshire Housing as a fourth co‑lead and to add additional private‑sector seats that could represent rental housing and developers.
Jack Reuterman, legislative affairs adviser with New Hampshire Housing, proposed two optional statutory changes for the committee’s consideration: (1) repeal of a longstanding RSA (RSA 204‑C:47) requiring New Hampshire Housing to submit a separate biennial state housing plan — Reuterman said council reports may duplicate that process — and (2) attaching an already‑existing Housing and Community Development Planning Council (created by executive order) to the Council on Housing Stability to improve coordination of HUD‑funded programs.
Jenny O’Higgins, DHHS legislative liaison for behavioral health, told senators that DHHS had requested a part‑time administrative position in the fiscal worksheet to support the council and estimated an FY2026 cost of roughly $11,700 for a part‑time position. She described ongoing interagency coordination and said DHHS provides support to the council’s work to link housing and homelessness strategy with behavioral‑health services.
The committee heard no opposition during the hearing. Members did ask clarifying questions about the council’s membership, vacancies and the relationship between the council’s annual report and New Hampshire Housing’s statutory planning reports. Witnesses offered to draft language for any changes the committee wished to consider.
Ending: The committee closed the hearing after testimony and said it would consider potential technical amendments and any statutory clean‑up language to reflect the council’s existing practices.
