Bill > SB634

This bill enables municipalities in New Hampshire to establish a local occupancy fee on room rentals, which can be applied to rooms costing more than $40 per night and collected for up to 184 consecutive days. The fee can be set at up to $2 per night or as a percentage, with the proceeds to be used for establishing municipal capital improvement funds, tourism support funds, or revolving funds. Municipalities must follow a specific process to implement the fee, including holding a public hearing, placing the question on a town meeting or city council ballot, and obtaining majority voter approval. The fee is designed to help municipalities augment funding for services related to increased tourism and transient traffic. Importantly, the collected funds are not considered part of the general fund surplus and cannot be transferred or spent without specific voted authorization by the town select board or city legislative body. Municipalities can also rescind the fee through a similar voting process if they choose to do so in the future. The bill provides a local option for towns and cities to generate additional revenue from room rentals while giving voters direct input on the implementation of such a fee.

Budget and Finance

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1394&inflect=2