The bill establishes the "Partners in Housing" program under the housing champions fund, designed to assist municipalities, counties, and developers in creating workforce housing on municipally or county-owned land. This includes single-family starter homes, duplexes, and small apartment buildings, with a focus on properties deemed suitable for residential use. The legislation allows for expedited review and approval of housing projects that meet specific criteria. Additionally, it amends existing laws by changing the term "selectmen" to "select board" and grants the select board the authority to manage town property, including leasing municipal property for up to five years without requiring further town votes. To support the program, the bill appropriates $150,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, to compile a publicly available list of suitable municipally and county-owned properties for residential development, with funding non-lapsing until June 30, 2027. The bill also mandates rulemaking pursuant to RSA 541-A by December 1, 2026 and outlines responsibilities for program development and oversight, as well as processing and evaluating property submissions and funding applications. Participation in the program is voluntary for counties, and while municipalities can identify suitable properties for a statewide list, the financial impact of these changes remains uncertain.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41:11-a, 674:1, 12-O:55, 12-O:74, 674:43