HB426

This is a great housekeeping bill simply affirming good sense and appreciation for the fact that volunteers who staff so many of the NH charities and non-profit organizations are likely to miss a filing deadline simply because they are volunteers. This bill says wisely that the town governing body (they say "selectmen") is permitted can accept their documents late if the reason is "accident, mistake, or misfortune." This is a compassionate way to support the countless volunteers who keep charities alive.

I would like to testify in support of House Bill 426, which provides a fair and necessary safety net for charitable organizations that may have missed the deadline to apply for a property tax exemption in the 2024 tax year. This bill ensures that organizations dedicated to serving our communities are not unduly penalized for administrative errors or unforeseen circumstances that prevented timely filing. Charitable organizations play a vital role in strengthening New Hampshire’s communities, providing essential services such as food assistance, shelters, healthcare access, and education programs. These organizations often operate on tight budgets, relying heavily on public support and efficient resource management. Property tax exemptions help them direct more of their limited funds toward their missions, rather than toward expenses that could undermine their ability to serve the public. House Bill 426 recognizes that mistakes and misfortunes happen—a missed deadline should not mean that a nonprofit loses a critical exemption for an entire tax year. By allowing organizations to apply retroactively if they can demonstrate to local selectmen that their failure to file was due to accident, mistake, or misfortune, this bill strikes a reasonable balance between accountability and flexibility. It ensures that exemptions are granted only when justified while preventing unnecessary financial strain on organizations that are already working hard to meet community needs. This legislation is also consistent with basic fairness in tax administration. Individuals and businesses have mechanisms to correct mistakes and seek abatements under existing tax laws; nonprofits that provide public benefit should have the same opportunity. Furthermore, the requirement that organizations provide evidence of their situation ensures that this is not a loophole for negligence, but rather a safeguard for organizations that genuinely need it. For these reasons, I strongly urge the committee to support HB 426 and ensure that New Hampshire’s nonprofit sector can continue its important work without being derailed by clerical missteps. Thank you for your time and consideration.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1772586 Looking to support this bill relative to property tax exemptions for charitable organizations for the prior tax year.

I am in support of HB 426 that will allow Select Boards to grant an exemption retroactively to charitable organizations for failure to file a timely statement of financial conditions if the failure was due to accident, mistake, or misfortune. Wolfeboro Select Board was asked and wanted to grant an exemption but could not because the State did not grant the Select Board that power. The Wright Museum and the Child Advocacy Center of Carroll County are two well-respected and supported charitable organizations in Wolfeboro, HB 426 will give the Select Board the authority to grant these charitable organization an exemption for 2024 Linda T Murray One member of the Wolfeboro Select Board