HB 1494
increasing the maximum amount of the optional veterans' tax credit, optional combat service tax credit, and optional surviving spouse tax credit.
Official record at gencourt.state.nh.us ↗Open this bill in the searchable view → · Follow this bill by RSS
On the record
Quoted from the General Court bill status page, not worked out from the docket.
| Status | SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
|---|---|
| In the House | PASSED/ADOPTED |
| In the Senate | PASSED/ADOPTED |
| Introduced | 1/7/2026 |
| Floor date | 2/5/2026 |
| LSR number | 2279 |
| Chapter | 0096 |
| Local government impact | no |
| Committee code | H18 |
Where it stands
House: PASSED/ADOPTED · Senate: PASSED/ADOPTED
Every floor vote on this bill was a voice or division vote, so there is no record of how individual legislators voted.
A bill goes on the consent calendar when the committee vote was unanimous or nearly so, and any members who dissented did not object to placing it there. It then passes without floor debate. Ten members may file a petition to pull a bill off the consent calendar and have it debated and voted on separately.
Sponsors
Pauer, Diane(R) Hills 36, Creighton, James(R) Hills 30, Gannon, Bill(R) Rock 23, Maggiore, Jim(D) Rock 23, Mandelbaum, Jennifer(D) Rock 21, Moffett, Michael(R) Merr 4, Watters, David(D) Straf 4, Weyler, Kenneth(R) Rock 14, Wheeler, Jonah(D) Hills 33
Prime sponsor in bold. From the General Court sponsor file.
What happened
Every action recorded in the official docket, in order. Each line ends with the journal or calendar that recorded it; where we have the document, that citation links to it.
- January 7, 2026Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government
- January 16, 2026Public Hearing: 01/16/2026 11:00 am GP 154
- January 16, 2026Executive Session: 01/16/2026 11:00 am GP 154
- January 27, 2026Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/16/2026 (Vote 16-0; CC)
- February 5, 2026Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/05/2026
- February 5, 2026Introduced 02/05/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs
- March 17, 2026Hearing: 03/17/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:45 am
- April 9, 2026Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 5-0; CC
- April 9, 2026Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026
- May 14, 2026Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026)
- May 14, 2026Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026
- June 1, 2026Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/28/2026; Chapter 96; eff. 04/1/2027
Votes
Roll call tallies and individual votes from the General Court roll call files. Presiding, excused and absent are shown separately: one member presides over each House roll call and does not vote except to break a tie.
Ought to Pass
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Ought to Pass
Decided on a voice vote. Only the outcome was recorded — there is no count of how any member voted.
Committee reports
Reproduced from the House Calendar in the committee’s own words.
Committee — OUGHT TO PASS
The bill increases the statutory maximum allowable amounts for the optional veterans’ tax credit and the optional combat service credit, both of which were last updated in 2018, and the optional surviving spouse credit, which has not been updated since 2003. The CPI-U for the Northeast inflation index was used to adjust the credit amounts for inflation. Specifically: the maximum allowable optional veterans’ tax credit is increased from $750 to $1,000; the maximum allowable optional combat service credit is increased from $500 to $750; and the maximum allowable optional surviving spouse credit is increased from $2,000 to $2,500. The bill preserves the original purpose of these credits, which remain entirely optional under existing statute, providing modest tax relief for veterans, combat service members, and surviving spouses without altering eligibility requirements or creating new obligations. Importantly, the bill maintains local control. Municipalities retain full discretion over whether to adopt or increase these credits. Adoption of any higher maximum must still occur at the local level, requiring approval by the legislative body. The bill does not automatically grant the increased amounts. The committee unanimously supports these reasonable changes, which maintain fairness for taxpayers while providing updated and meaningful relief for veterans, combat service members, and surviving spouses in New Hampshire. Vote 16-0.
Hearings and recordings
Recordings are the General Court’s own, on YouTube. Start times are estimates unless stated otherwise, and the player opens early.
- January 16, 2026 at 11:00Municipal and County Government public hearing recording 6:19:41–6:24:49, about 5 min (estimated)
- January 16, 2026 at 11:00Municipal and County Government executive session recording (start time not identified)
- February 5, 2026House floor debate recording (start time not identified)
- March 17, 2026 at 09:45Election Law and Municipal Affairs hearing recording (start time not identified)
- April 9, 2026Senate floor debate recording (start time not identified)
Page generated 2026-09-03 from data published by the New Hampshire General Court. Granite Record is an independent project, not affiliated with the General Court. The official record always takes precedence. Corrections: [email protected]