This bill aims to prohibit discrimination against tenants who hold vouchers under the Housing Choice Voucher Program when renting dwellings. It amends RSA 354-A:10 to include unlawful discriminatory practices related to real estate transactions, specifically stating that it is illegal to refuse to rent or make a dwelling unavailable to a prospective tenant solely based on their participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The bill outlines specific conditions under which a landlord may deny a rental application without being considered discriminatory, such as if the rent exceeds 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.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing exemptions in RSA 354-A:15 regarding private sales of single-family homes and rentals in small buildings, ensuring that these exemptions do not apply to the new provisions concerning discrimination against voucher holders. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025. The bill also notes that a fiscal impact statement is pending from the Human Rights Commission, as the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is awaiting further information.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 354-A:10, 354-A:15