SB 225-FN-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/06/2025 0602s 2025 SESSION 25-0334 07/02 SENATE BILL225-FN-LOCAL AN ACTrequiring public notice before re-assessment of property values for local tax purposes. SPONSORS:Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Rep. Ohm, Hills. 10; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. Hill, Merr. 2 COMMITTEE:Election Law and Municipal Affairs ----------------------------------------------------------------- AMENDED ANALYSIS This bill requires municipalities to post a public notice prior to conducting any annual or 5-year revaluation of property. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type. 03/06/2025 0602s25-0334 07/02 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACTrequiring public notice before re-assessment of property values for local tax purposes. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Appraisal of Taxable Property; Annual Appraisal; Municipalities Over 10,000; 45-Day Notice of Revaluation. Amend RSA 75:8-b to read as follows: 75:8-b Annual Appraisal; Municipalities Over 10,000. Except when assessing real estate under RSA 75:8-a, any municipality with a population over 10,000 as determined pursuant to RSA 78-A:25 intending to appraise real estate annually at market value, as defined in RSA 75:1, shall authorize such annual appraisal by a majority vote of the governing body. The governing body shall hold 2 public hearings regarding the annual appraisal process at least 15 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to the governing body's authorization vote. Any municipality with a population over 10,000 as determined pursuant to RSA 78-A:25 annually appraising real estate at market value shall provide notification of changes to the assessed valuation at least 45 days prior to the issuance of the final tax bill[, either]. Such notice shall be by individual notice to the property owner, by public notice in a local newspaper of general circulation, by public notice on the municipalities' main website or any social media accounts utilized by the municipality, and public notice posted in the 2 places where the municipality regularly posts notices of its governing body meetings, [or] and by any other means deemed appropriate by the governing body. 2 New Section; Five-Year Valuation Notice. Amend RSA 75 by inserting after section 8-b the following new section: 75:8-c Five Year Valuation Notice. Any municipality that conducts a reappraisal of property pursuant to RSA 75:8-a shall provide notification of changes to the assessed valuation at least 45 days prior to the issuance of the final tax bill. Such notice shall be by individual notice to the property owner, by public notice in a local newspaper of general circulation, by public notice on the municipalities' main website and any social media accounts utilized by the municipality, by public notice posted in the 2 places where the municipality regularly posts notices of its governing body meetings, and by any other means deemed appropriate by the governing body. 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. LBA 25-0334 12/19/24 SB 225-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCED AN ACTrequiring public notice before re-assessment of property values for local tax purposes. FISCAL IMPACT: Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 County Expenditures $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures $0 $0 IndeterminableIncrease IndeterminableIncrease Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 County Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 County Expenditures $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures $0 $0 Indeterminable Increase Indeterminable Increase METHODOLOGY: This bill requires municipalities to post a 90-day notice prior to conducting any annual or 5-year revaluation of property. This would require that all municipalities provide notification in all of the following ways: by individual notice to the property owner, by public notice in a local newspaper of general circulation, by public notice on the municipalities' main website and any social media accounts utilized by the municipality, public notice posted in two places where the municipality regularly posts notices of its governing body meetings, and by any other means deemed appropriate by the governing body. The New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA) anticipates this to have an indeterminate but significant impact on municipal costs, primarily due to the staff time, printing, and mailing expenses involved in providing individual notices. These costs will vary among municipalities. AGENCIES CONTACTED: New Hampshire Municipal Association