Bill Text - SB514 (2024)

Relative to the timber tax.


Revision: Nov. 21, 2023, 8:20 a.m.

 

2024 SESSION

24-2917.0

10/05

 

SENATE BILL [bill number]

 

AN ACT relative to the timber tax.

 

SPONSORS: [sponsors]

 

COMMITTEE: [committee]

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill increases the amount of wood or wood chips a landowner can use for personal use or for land conservation purposes without being subject to the timber tax.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2917.0

10/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to the timber tax.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Forest Conservation and Taxation; Timber Tax Definitions; Application.  Amend RSA 79:1, II(b) to read as follows:

(b) The following persons shall not be required to file an intent to cut or be subject to the tax imposed by this chapter:

(1) A person who cuts, within the tax year, up to [10,000] 15,000 board feet of logs from his or her own land for use in the construction, reconstruction, or alteration of his or her own buildings, structures, or fences situated in the state of New Hampshire; provided that such buildings are not being built for sale purposes;

(2) A person who cuts or causes to be cut, within the tax year, up to [20] 30 cords of fuel wood for his or her own consumption in the state of New Hampshire for domestic fuel purposes, or any amount for the manufacture of maple sugar or syrup;

(3) Federal government, state government, cities, towns, school districts, or other political subdivisions which cut wood or timber for their own use, on lands under their ownership or jurisdiction or both.

(4) Persons engaged in the clearing or maintaining of rights-of-way or water storage reservoir areas incidental to the furnishing of utility services or transportation services to the public; provided, however, that when the person clearing or causing the clearing of said right-of-way sells or agrees to sell the wood or timber, [he] the person shall be deemed to be an "owner" as defined in subparagraph (a) above.

(5) A person who cuts or causes to be cut, within the tax year, up to [10,000] 15,000 board feet of logs and [20] 30 cords of wood [or the equivalent in] and 30 tons of whole tree chips, from the person's own land within a municipality, for land conversion purposes other than timber growing and forest uses, provided that those persons intending to convert the use of the land have secured all required permits including, but not limited to, building permits, subdivision or zoning permits, excavation permits, or site plan approvals, as necessary for the use to which the land will be converted, and are able to furnish proof of such permits.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.