HB1814

Creates a needed 10yr NH housing plan.

On behalf of Community Support Network, Inc, I would like to express support for HB 1814. While there is broad acknowledgment that the lack of housing options remains one of the biggest obstacles many NH citizens face, citizens with disabilities often experience the shortage in a way that is magnified. Having a statewide plan that includes a representative from an organization supporting people with disabilities allows these individuals to provide a unique perspective on the accessibility of newly constructed homes. While the Fair Housing Act does cite certain expectations, many are missing - many having to do not only with physically accessible properties but with the community accessibility for people who, by and large, do not have driver's licenses. It's quite difficult to live a good life with any sort of independence if you have to call on a paid staff member to bring you everywhere. In a state that does not have widespread access to public transportation, this is a major concern. I thank you all for your consideration of this testimony, and again want to express my support for HB1814 - this bill presents a meaningful opportunity for people with disabilities to let their voice be heard.

I support establishing a ten year housing and infrastructure plan.

We don't need for eviction to be easier than it already is. We have a housing crisis and this will not help.

Dear Chair and Members of the Committee, I write in strong support of HB 1814, a necessary and long-overdue step toward addressing New Hampshire’s housing and infrastructure challenges with the seriousness, coordination, and foresight they demand. For too long, New Hampshire has approached housing and infrastructure through short-term fixes and siloed decision-making. The result is a system that struggles to keep pace with population needs, workforce demands, and economic growth. HB 1814 acknowledges a fundamental reality: housing, transportation, utilities, and community infrastructure are inseparable, and addressing them in isolation has left communities behind. By establishing a 10-year strategic housing and infrastructure plan, HB 1814 creates the framework New Hampshire needs to move from reactive policymaking to proactive, data-driven planning. Long-range planning is not bureaucracy for its own sake—it is a tool for fiscal discipline, predictability, and smarter investment. Municipalities, employers, developers, and residents all benefit when the state provides clear direction and coordinated priorities. This bill does not impose mandates on towns, nor does it dictate land-use decisions. Instead, it provides a shared roadmap that can help align state agencies, inform legislative decisions, guide infrastructure investments, and support local planning efforts. In a state that values local control, this kind of coordination is not overreach—it is responsible governance. Housing shortages and infrastructure constraints are already affecting workforce retention, economic competitiveness, and community stability across New Hampshire. Schools cannot hire staff, employers cannot retain workers, and families are being priced out of the communities they call home. HB 1814 responds to these pressures by encouraging thoughtful, long-term solutions rather than piecemeal responses. New Hampshire plans for transportation, education, and economic development over multi-year horizons. Housing and infrastructure deserve the same level of seriousness and strategic intent. HB 1814 provides that opportunity. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to find HB 1814 ought to pass. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your service to the people of New Hampshire. Respectfully submitted, David John Preece State Representative, Hillsborough District 17 Manchester, New Hampshire

Dear Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee, Please vote “OTP” on HB 1814. This is a bill that will enhance the workforce housing initiative supported by AGE WELL NH and the New Hampshire Commission on Aging. New Hampshire is the second oldest state and has a woefully under-staffed direct care workforce. We cannot build that workforce without accessible affordable housing! A strategic housing and infrastructure plan is vital for the future of all age groups in the Granite State. Sincerely, Representative Janet Lucas