Legislative Updates by Rep. Maureen Mooney for July, 2026

Happy 250^th, America!

It was great celebrating the semiquincentennial in Merrimack! Congratulations to the Merrimack Parks and Rec, the 250^th Committee, Merrimack Rotary Club, and the Sparkler 5K!A job really well done for such a momentous occasion! Thank you, thank you!

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Some important dates coming up:

-House bill filing period for incumbents: September 1 – 11, 2026;

-State Primary Day: Tuesday, September 8, 2026;

-General Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026;

-House bill filing period for all elected: November 4 – 18, 2026;

-House Organization Day for the new legislature: December 2, 2026.

Recently, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed and vetoed multiple bills. Here is a full list along with veto messages:https://www.governor.nh.gov/news/governor-signs-74-bills-law

Here are some highlights of what received a gubernatorial signature and what didn’t:

-HB 1433-FN (AN ACT Creating a child care tax credit for qualifying businesses.) Status: SIGNED INTO LAW. This bill creates the long-awaited “Child Day Care Creation Tax Credit Program” for qualifying businesses effective July 1, 2026.Expenditures that qualify are: acquiring/constructing/rehabilitation/renovating/expanding property to create child care or expand child care, AND operational expenditures for the first 2 years of a new child care facility or existing facilities. Eligible businesses may claim a credit equal to 50% of total claimed expenditures against its business profits taxes. Eligible businesses include those that create or expand child care seats on or after Jan. 1, 2027, AND submit a satisfactory child care creation tax credit application with the Department of Revenue Administration.

-HB 1756-FN (AN ACT Allowing organizations to file for property tax exemptions once and receive those exemptions unless and until a town assessor finds the organization ineligible for an exemption.) Status: SIGNED INTO LAW. This new law allows every religious/educational/charitable/Grange/VFW/American Legion/Disabled American Veterans/American National Red Cross to file before April 15 in any tax year a list of all real estate/personal property which an exemption from taxation is claimed. The application for exemption shall now be considered permanent upon approval. City/Town assessors/Boards of Selectmen/Other Assessors shall review the properties annually to ensure they still qualify, and applicants shall file additional information as requested by a city/town every 5 years or annually if requested. The signed bill is effective 60 days after passage.

-SB 223-FN (AN ACT Relative valid photo identification for purposes of obtaining a ballot and relative to the production of lists of certain schools of higher education.) Status: SIGNED INTO LAW. This new law will allow only the photo identifications listed in RSA 659:13, II(a) as acceptable for voting. The signed bill becomes law 60 days from passage.

-HB 1337 (AN ACT Repealing the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders.) Status: VETOED. This bill would have abolished the New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders (“NHCASD”) created by legislation in 2008.The council was established to “provide coordinated leadership in addressing the healthcare, education, and service needs of individuals who experience autism or a related disability.” See more information here:https://www.nhautismcouncil.org/.The council is found in RSA 171-A:32.

-SB 627-FN(AN ACT Relative to toll rate adjustments and periodic inflation-based toll reviews for the New Hampshire turnpike system to support the 2027-2036 ten-year transportation plan.) Status: VETOED. This bill would have increased the Hooksett, Bedford, Hampton, Dover, Rochester toll rates based on “class” of vehicle beginning on January 1, 2027 to support turnpike projects in the “ten-year transportation plan.” The increase would apply to those users without a New Hampshire based E-ZPass account.

Around Town

The Merrimack Historical Society is hosting a July 21, 2026 Celebration beginning at 1pm.The day includes the Yankee Brass Band, time capsule dedication, and more. See details here:https://merrimackhistory.com/july-21-celebration/

See you around town!

Rep. Maureen Mooney is in her sixth term as a NH State Representative serving Merrimack. Her website is: www.votemooney.com and Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/maureenmooneynh.