Doug McNutt | Oppose HB1598

Testimony HB 1598 My name is Doug McNutt and I write in opposition to HB 1598. I am a member of the New Hampshire State Commission on Aging and I write on behalf of the Commission. We oppose HB 1598 because it shortens the time for notice to tenants to file appearances and for hearings to be scheduled for non-payment evictions. It allows for tenants to be out within 24 hours after a hearing. Thus practically limiting the right to appeal. It limits defenses that can be raised at a hearing including rent withholding defenses, retaliation defenses and domestic violence defenses, that would otherwise be available, possibly encouraging the use of this statute to avoid the use of these defenses. RSA 540 already includes expedited evictions for situations in which the tenant is damaging the property or causing danger to other residents. This bill will reduce the time for tenants to catch up with their rent and create a risk of default judgements. It will make it more difficult for attorneys to represent clients due to the shortened timeline to file appearances These expedited cases will also cause an increase in the number of cases that courts must handle as well as causing scheduling problems in the larger courts. For all of these reasons we ask the Committee to vote this bill ITL Thank you for your consideration. Douglas McNutt Concord, NH Mcnuttdoug8@gmail.com