House GOP leaders backed a proposal from House Election Laws Committee Chairman Ross Berry to place a local property tax cap question before voters statewide in November, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Leaders argued the current system of low-turnout town and school district meetings is no longer responsive to taxpayers. The plan drew a wide range of opinions during a lengthy hearing.
Leaders placed the question near the top of their agenda for the year, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.
House GOP leaders have identified this as one of the most important issues in the 2026 session.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne framed the measure as a matter of voter consent, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
“This modest proposal would give voters the opportunity to voice their consent or not to unrestricted tax increases.”
the New Hampshire Union Leader
Supporters argued the choice should rest with the full electorate, the New Hampshire Union Leader notes.
All voters should get the chance to decide if their local taxes are too high, he said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
The hearing drew turnout from across the spectrum, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
The plan to put a local property tax cap question on the statewide ballot in November attracted a variety of opinions during a lengthy hearing Tuesday.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
Berry pressed his case to the committee, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.
“If voters want a tax cap, let’s give them one, but let’s have a real vote first.”
the New Hampshire Union Leader
In his own words, House Majority Leader Jason Osborne framed it this way, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Local property taxes are out of control, driven by fringe special interests taking advantage of low voter participation,” House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, said in a statement.
Jason Osborne
Supporters argued that budgets adopted at sparsely attended town and school district meetings no longer reflect the will of taxpayers, and that a statewide vote would let residents weigh in directly. House GOP leaders identified the question as one of the most important issues of the 2026 session, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Leaders argued the proposal would simply ask voters statewide whether they want the option of a local cap, with construction costs and bond payments exempted. Osborne and his colleagues placed the question among their top priorities for the year, casting it as a matter of taxpayer consent, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Under the proposal, construction costs and bond payments would be exempt from the cap, and any increase would be tied to a cost-of-living index, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports. Leaders argued that giving every voter a direct say would make the system more accountable than the current low-turnout meetings.
Read the full story at the New Hampshire Union Leader.
