Bill > HB628

This bill amends New Hampshire's civil rights law to prohibit landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Section 8), which is a federal assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families afford housing. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for landlords to refuse to rent to or deny housing to someone solely because they hold a housing voucher. The bill provides two limited exceptions to this prohibition: first, if the rent for the dwelling is higher than what the housing authority will approve and is consistent with rates for similar units, and second, if the housing authority determines the dwelling fails to meet federal housing quality standards. The bill also updates language in existing law related to discriminatory real estate practices, expanding protections against discrimination based on various characteristics like age, race, gender identity, and disability. The new provisions will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving landlords and housing authorities time to adjust to the new requirements. The bill aims to reduce housing discrimination and increase access to housing for voucher holders by preventing blanket rejections based on their participation in the federal assistance program.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0629&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB628