HB128: (New Title) establishing a committee to study veterans property tax credits and exemptions.

CHAPTER 76

HB 128 - FINAL VERSION

14Mar2019... 0617h

2019 SESSION

19-0041

05/01

HOUSE BILL 128

AN ACT establishing a committee to study veterans property tax credits and exemptions.

SPONSORS: Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Abramson, Rock. 20; Rep. J. Schmidt, Hills. 28

COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study property tax credits and exemptions available to New Hampshire veterans.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14Mar2019... 0617h 19-0041

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

AN ACT establishing a committee to study veterans property tax credits and exemptions.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

76:1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the use of property tax credits and exemptions to recognize the service of New Hampshire veterans.

76:2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be members of the municipal and county government committee and one of whom shall be a member of the state-federal relations and veterans affairs committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

76:3 Duties. The committee shall:

I. Study the property tax credits and exemptions available to veterans in New Hampshire, including the standard and optional veteran's tax credit under RSA 72:28, the all veterans tax credit under RSA 72:28-b, the optional tax credit for combat service under RSA 72:28-c, the tax credit for service-connected total disability under RSA 72:35, and the exemption for certain disabled veterans under RSA 72:36-a.

II. Review the eligibility criteria for each credit or exemption, the amount of the credit or exemption, the cost to the municipality of adopting or granting the credit or exemption, and the number of veterans who benefit.

III. Consider whether legislative amendment of existing veterans' tax credits or exemptions is warranted and whether alternative means of providing property tax relief to veterans is appropriate.

IV. Solicit information from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study, including the state office of veterans services, the department of revenue administration, and the New Hampshire Municipal Association.

76:4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

76:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2019.

76:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved: June 18, 2019

Effective Date: June 18, 2019