(New Title) increasing the research and development tax credit cap and relative to state park fees for state residents.
Summary
HB 1102 increases the statewide cap on research and development tax credits from $7 million to $10 million per fiscal year and raises the maximum credit any single taxpayer can claim from $50,000 to $100,000. The bill also changes the timing of the larger cap’s effective date, with the tax-credit changes taking effect January 1, 2027, and the park-fee provisions taking effect April 1, 2027, while the remainder of the act takes effect January 1, 2028.
In addition to the tax credit changes, the bill directs the commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to set New Hampshire resident entry fees for state parks at no more than 50 percent of the nonresident rate when fees are collected online or in person at the park. It also allows separate resident and nonresident fee schedules for specific park uses such as camping, facility rentals, parking, and boat rentals, with resident charges capped at 90 percent of nonresident charges for those services. The bill further authorizes discounted or waived park rates for veterans and for school or student groups, and states that not all park facilities are intended to be self-supporting.
Impact
The bill amends RSA 77-A:5 to expand the research and development tax credit program, increasing both the annual aggregate credit cap and the per-entity cap. This is expected to reduce Business Profits Tax and Business Enterprise Tax revenue, with the fiscal note estimating a maximum revenue decrease of $3 million in the first year the higher cap is available and indeterminate revenue losses in later years due to carryforwards and uncertain credit usage. The bill also amends RSA 216-A:3-g to impose resident-discount requirements for state park entry and to permit differentiated pricing for certain park services, while expressly allowing special rates for veterans and student groups.
Sentiment
The available record suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill in committee, or at least no documented opposition in the materials provided. The bill advanced through the Ways and Means process in both chambers, and the fiscal note frames the tax-credit expansion as a policy choice with manageable administrative effects rather than a major new spending program. No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so the broader political sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s progression and the absence of noted objections.
Contention
The main policy tension in HB 1102 is fiscal: supporters of the R&D credit expansion are likely focused on encouraging business investment and innovation, while critics may be concerned about reduced state revenue and the uncertainty of the long-term fiscal impact. The state park fee provisions may also draw debate over whether residents should receive a substantial discount relative to nonresidents and whether separate pricing by use type creates complexity or inequity. The bill’s explicit authorization for discounted or waived rates for veterans and school or student groups appears designed to reduce contention around access and public-service exceptions.