Bill Text - HB1567 (2026)

Relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.


Revision: Dec. 10, 2025, 9:42 a.m.

HB 1567  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2470

06/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1567

 

AN ACT relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Durkin, Coos 1; Rep. A. Davis, Coos 2; Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Tierney, Coos 1

 

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill clarifies that the assessed value for the use of public rights-of-way by telecommunications infrastructure shall include a calculation based on the average per acre value of adjacent land and the total length of class I, II, IV, and V roads.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2470

06/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to the valuation of telecommunications use of public rights-of-way.

 

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

 

1  Valuation of Telecommunications Poles and Conduits; Rulemaking.  Amend RSA 72:8-c to read as follows:

72:8-c  Valuation of Telecommunications Poles and Conduits; Rulemaking.

I. The value of wooden poles or conduits employed in the transmission of telecommunications owned in whole or in part by telephone utilities, as described in RSA 362:7, or providers of Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") service or IP-enabled service, each as defined in RSA 362:7, or commercial mobile radio services, for purposes of tax assessment against said entity, shall be determined by the following formula:  the Replacement Cost New (RCN) of the telecommunications pole or conduit, less depreciation calculated on a straight-line basis for a period of 40 years with a residual value of 20 percent without applying the annual equalization ratio.

II.  In addition to the appraisal determined under paragraph I, the assessed value for the use of public rights-of-way shall be equal to the average assessed per acre value of adjacent land multiplied by the total length of all class I, II, IV, and V roads, as determined by the department of transportation in the previous year, divided by 43,560.

III.  On or before July 1 of the tax year, the department of revenue administration shall provide to every municipality a schedule of telecommunications pole and conduit RCN, using national published telecommunications standard cost data guides calculated annually using a 5-year rolling average.

[III.] IV. The commissioner of the department of revenue administration shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to how telecommunications pole and conduit RCN shall be established, including a process for receiving public input prior to such establishment.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.