The bill aims to prohibit discrimination against tenants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program when renting dwellings. It amends RSA 354-A:10 by adding a new paragraph (I-a) that makes it unlawful to refuse to rent or deny a dwelling to a prospective tenant based on their participation in the voucher program. Exceptions to this rule include situations where the rent charged is above what the housing authority can approve or if the dwelling does not meet the Housing Quality Standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2023.

The fiscal note attached to the bill indicates that the fiscal impact on the state is indeterminable at this time. The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, which would enforce this legislation, cannot predict the number of new cases that may arise as a result of this bill. Consequently, it is unclear whether additional resources or staff will be necessary to handle potential increases in workload. The bill does not specify any changes to state, county, or local revenue or appropriations, and the funding source for any potential expenditure increase remains unspecified.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 354-A:10