HB 572-FN-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
18Feb2015… 0323h
2015 SESSION
15-0034
09/10
HOUSE BILL 572-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to taking land by eminent domain for high pressure gas pipelines and requiring payment of the land use change tax when land is taken by eminent domain to build energy infrastructure.
SPONSORS: Rep. J. Belanger, Hills 27; Rep. Frazer, Merr 13; Rep. Gardner, Straf 15; Rep. Edelblut, Hills 38; Rep. Coffey, Hills 25; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Itse, Rock 10; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr 21; Rep. Grenier, Sull 7; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
This bill allows a residential owner option when land is taken by a utility for a high pressure gas pipeline and requires payment of the land use change tax when land is taken by eminent domain to build energy infrastructure.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
18Feb2015… 0323h
15-0034
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to taking land by eminent domain for high pressure gas pipelines and requiring payment of the land use change tax when land is taken by eminent domain to build energy infrastructure.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Eminent Domain; Residential Owner Option. Amend RSA 371:5-a, I to read as follows:
I. When private real property which is used for residential purposes is proposed to be acquired in part for the construction of an above ground substation, high pressure gas pipeline, or transmission line, the owners of the residential property shall have the option to require the [utility] taker to condemn and take in fee the entire tract of land impacted by the proposed partial taking including all buildings and improvements thereon if all owners, excluding lien holders and mortgagees, of the private real property make such an election and provide the commission and the utility with written notice of their election within 30 days after receipt of the notice under RSA 371:4. If the utility acquires the entire tract of land with buildings and improvements thereon pursuant to this section or by agreement with the owners, the entire acquisition shall be deemed to be an acquisition for a public purpose and for use in the utility’s business.
2 New Subparagraph; Land Use Change Tax. Amend RSA 79-A:7, IV by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:
(d) Land is taken under eminent domain to build energy infrastructure which will result in revenue for the public utility. Notwithstanding subparagraph VI(a), the taker shall pay the land use change tax on all land that no longer qualifies for current use assessment.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect June 1, 2015.
LBAO
15-0034
Amended 02/20/15
HB 572-FN-LOCAL FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to taking land by eminent domain for high pressure gas pipelines and requiring payment of the land use change tax when land is taken by eminent domain to build energy infrastructure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Revenue Administration states this bill, as amended by the House (Amendment #2015-0323h), may increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local expenditures, or state, county, and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Revenue Administration states this bill provides for the expansion of events that will trigger the land use change tax. The Department states that while this expansion may increase land use change tax revenue in certain communities, this change will have no impact on the total amount of revenue collected, as it will merely shift the tax burden within those municipalities. The Department states affected municipalities may experience an increase in expenditures related to administration of the tax.