HB585 Relative to the property tax exemption for religious organizations.
Relative to the property tax exemption for religious organizations.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Harmful
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Property tax exemptions for religious organizations shift tax burden to other property owners and reduce municipal revenue, increasing costs for non-exempt residents and potentially requiring higher tax rates elsewhere.
Your Community
Loss of property tax revenue from exempted religious properties reduces funding available to municipalities for schools, roads, emergency services, and local infrastructure that serve all residents.
Your Freedom
The bill accommodates religious organizations' property holdings and allows them operational flexibility, though it creates differential tax treatment based on religious status rather than expanding individual rights.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 01/07/2026 House Journal 1 P. 80
Sponsor
John Janigian (R)
The Short Version
This bill exempts rental properties owned by religious organizations from property taxes, provided the rental income funds religious leadership compensation, building maintenance, or religious programs. The exemption applies to up to one parsonage/residential property and one worship building per organization.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Religious organizations that own rental residential properties or worship buildings
- ▲ Religious leaders whose compensation may be funded through exempted rental income
- ▲ Members of religious organizations whose dues/donations can be redirected from property taxes to other uses
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Non-religious property owners and non-exempt residents whose property taxes may increase to compensate for lost municipal revenue
- ▼ Municipal governments and school districts experiencing reduced tax base
- ▼ Residents in towns reliant on property tax revenue for services
Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.