Dana Flanders

I respectfully oppose HB 1580. While addressing housing affordability and municipal revenue challenges is important, this bill takes the wrong approach by singling out non-primary residential property owners for a new tax surcharge. Many second homes and non-primary residences are owned by retirees, small investors, or families who have long contributed to local economies through property taxes, local spending, and employment. HB 1580 risks discouraging investment, increasing housing costs for renters, and placing additional administrative burdens on municipalities tasked with enforcement and classification. Furthermore, it undermines New Hampshire’s long-standing principle of broad-based, locally controlled property taxation by creating a statewide mandate that may not reflect the needs or priorities of individual communities. The potential economic ripple effects and administrative complexity outweigh the uncertain benefits, and for these reasons, HB 1580 should not move forward.