Bill
HB 155
HB 155 aims to reduce New Hampshire’s business enterprise tax rate, lowering BET burden on businesses and affecting state revenue and budgeting.
HB 155 (New Hampshire, Session 2026) — Reducing the rate of the business enterprise tax
Overview
- Purpose: To reduce the rate of the business enterprise tax (BET) in New Hampshire. The bill is framed as lowering the tax burden on businesses by decreasing the BET rate, with potential effects on state revenue and business competitiveness.
- Primary sponsor context: Introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill has multiple co-sponsors (Ross Berry, Joe Sweeney, Jason Osborne, Joe Alexander), and has undergone committee hearings and amendments during the 2025–2026 cycle.
Key provisions and changes (as indicated by the bill’s history and committee actions)
- Rate reduction: The central provision is a reduction of the BET rate. The specific proposed rate (e.g., the percentage reduction or new rate) is not stated in the provided materials, but the legislative focus is explicitly on lowering the BET.
- Implementation details: The bill would specify how the reduced BET rate is applied to assessable business enterprise tax base and related calculations. This typically includes:
- The applicable tax year(s) for the rate reduction.
- Methods to calculate BET under the new rate for corporations, financial institutions, utilities, or other entities subject to BET (if New Hampshire’s BET applies broadly, the change would affect most BET filers).
- Any transitional rules or phased-in approach, if included.
- Revenue considerations: As with most tax rate reductions, the bill would address estimated state revenue implications, potential offsets, or sunset/trigger mechanisms. The accompanying fiscal notes (not provided here) would ordinarily outline expected revenue loss and budgetary impact.
Who would be affected
- Taxpayers subject to the business enterprise tax in New Hampshire. This includes:
- Businesses and corporations currently paying BET at the existing rate.
- Potential downstream effects on other taxes or fees if BET revenue supports certain programs or general fund expenditures.
- State government and public programs: A reduction in BET revenue could influence the state budget, funding for state services, and any programs relying on BET-derived revenue. The bill would likely require a budgetary or fiscal note detailing these effects.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduced and referral: Introduced January 7, 2026; referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
- Legislative process steps:
- January 2025–January 2026: Various committee activities, including hearings, work sessions, and amendments.
- Notable actions: Ought to Pass with Amendment (February 2026 and/or January 2026 activity), hearings scheduled for February 2026 (04/22/2026 hearing noted with potential non-germane amendment).
- The bill’s path included executive sessions, committee reports, and potential amendments (including one identified as 2026-1482s).
- Status: As of the latest action in April 2026, the bill was advancing through the committee process with regular hearings and amendments contemplated. Final floor votes and enactment would depend on subsequent committee reports and votes.
Notes and considerations
- The specific numeric details (the exact reduced BET rate, effective dates, transition rules, or sunset provisions) are not provided in the summary materials here. For a precise understanding, readers should consult the bill text and accompanying fiscal notes.
- If enacted, the BET rate reduction could influence overall business costs and economic activity in New Hampshire, potentially affecting job creation, investment, and competitive positioning relative to neighboring states.
In short, HB 155 aims to reduce the business enterprise tax rate in New Hampshire, with the core change being a lower BET rate and corresponding budgetary implications. The bill is progressing through the Ways and Means process with committee hearings and potential amendments.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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