Legislative Updates by Rep. Maureen Mooney for September, 2026

A very special "thank you" to all voters and poll workers on Primary Day - September 8, 2026. We appreciate you taking the time to participate in our government "by the people."

IMPORTANT DATES:

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Some important dates are just around the corner:

-Senate bill filing period for incumbents: September 21 – 25, 2026.

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

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

-Senate bill filing period for all elected: November 4 – 18, 2026 at 4pm.

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

TAX CAP QUESTION:

This year, HB 1300-FN (AN ACT establishing a school district local tax cap question for the state general elections of 2026 and 2028 and related limitations on central office administrative expenses in school districts) was signed into law on July 15, 2026. Here is what this bill sets out to do:

Every school district in NH will get a question on the ballot in November 2026 AND November 2028 that reads: "Shall the [name of municipality] limit property tax growth for [name(s) of school district(s)] under RSA 32:5-i? If adopted for a two-year period: (1) the local property tax levy may not grow beyond the prior year's amount, adjusted for inflation and new construction; (2) SAU central office spending may not exceed 6 percent of total school district appropriations; and (3) bonded capital costs are excluded from both limits. These caps apply only to administrative operations of the SAU central office and do not affect classroom instruction, school-based services, or other municipal expenditures. These limits may be overridden as provided in RSA 32:5-i. Adoption requires a three-fifths (3/5) majority vote."

Here is an explanation of the question:

·"(1) the local property tax levy may not grow beyond the prior year's amount, adjusted for inflation and new construction;" NOTE: An adopted cap sets a limit on how much school district property taxes can rise from one year to the next using this formula: Prior Year Levy x (1 + CPI-U Inflation + Net New Taxable Property Growth). Inflation uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), Northeast Region.

·"(2) SAU central office spending may not exceed 6 percent of total school district appropriations;" NOTE: This section would hold central office administrative budgets to 6% of total school district appropriations.

·"(3) bonded capital costs are excluded from both limits." NOTE: Exempt from an adopted cap are: principal and interest on bonds for buying, building, or majorly renovating real property outside of the cap.

·"Adoption requires a three-fifths (3/5) majority vote." NOTE: The question requires 3/5 majority of Merrimack voters to adopt.

·"If adopted for a two-year period:" NOTE: If this question is adopted by 3/5 of the Merrimack voters, the school district property taxes are capped for the next 2 fiscal years.

·"These limits may be overridden as provided in RSA 32:5-i." NOTE: If adopted, and a school district needs to spend above the cap, it can do so when the "legislative body" in the town overrides by a supermajority vote according to its charter. In this instance, the "legislative body" would be the Merrimack School Board.

The intent behind this ballot question is to limit the rate of a property tax increase by capping spending within CPI-U inflation, and net new taxable property growth.

More information can be found at this site sponsored by the Committee to Elect House Republicans: https://nhpropertytaxcap.com/about. Additionally, here is an interesting article on the subject from New Hampshire Bulletin: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/07/17/a-new-law-puts-school-district-tax-caps-on-the-november-ballot-heres-how-it-works/.

AROUND TOWN:

A special "thank you" to the Town of Merrimack, American Legion Post 98, and VFW Post #8641 for hosting a memorial service for those innocent lives lost on 9/11.It was a very moving tribute for the 25th Anniversary. God bless America and our first responders, always.

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.