Housing

HB 1171 creates a 90-day grace period for renters who miss rent payments due to an unexpected interruption in their monthly Social Security benefits. The bill directly affects residential tenants in New Hampshire whose Social Security payments are halted unexpectedly, providing time to secure alternative housing or funding without facing immediate eviction. It amends state law to require landlords to grant this 90-day extension when rent is missed specifically because of disrupted Social Security payments. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 572 establishes the "Partners in Housing" program, a low-interest loan and grant program under the Housing Champions Fund to help municipalities, counties, and developers build workforce housing. The program prioritizes single-family starter homes, duplexes, small apartment buildings, and "missing middle housing" on municipally-owned land suitable for residential development, with $2 million of the $10 million total funding specifically allocated for this initiative. Municipalities can identify suitable public land for housing development, which would be added to a statewide list prioritized for program funding, and projects must include at least 20% affordable units for 20 years. The program also includes expedited review processes for qualifying projects to speed up development. The bill appropriates $10 million for the Housing Champions Fund, with $500,000 designated for program administration.