Legislative Update 6/25/2014 - Contact Governor to approve HB590 Unauthorized Practice of Law

This Legislative Update is provided by Nick Norman, Director, Legislative Affairs for the RPOA 

Howdee everyone,

The legislative season is mostly over with only a few things being wrapped up.  If things are normal over the summer there will be little activity so these updates will be likely be much less frequent.

HELP NEEDED

We need more volunteers for the legislative effort in general and more core team volunteers.  We only need 15 minutes per week per person during the busy times to make this legislative effort extremely effective.

Please contact Nick Norman at nicknorman@yahoo.com to help out.

I also am coordinating a Property Rights Friendly and Property Rights Unfriendly legislator list.  We hope this will be helpful as we approach time to vote for a new legislature.  Please also contact me if you have specific factual information to add to the list regarding any specific candidates for election.


Important Updates:None

Action items this week:
If you have not done so already write and/or call the Governors office asking the governor to pass HB590 which allows an LLC etc, to be represented by a member of an LLC in district court (for evictions and small claims). (You will no longer be required to hire an attorney).

Governor's office is 271-2121
You can e-mail the governor by going to the following website:
http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp

See more info in Summaries & Full Detail for each category further below. (includes property owner position, contact info, Talking points, and more).(to jump right to bill detail, use Control-F, Find).

Hearings this week:None

Hearings next week:None scheduled so far

Further below is:Bills Updated Status summary:
Full details on all bills above
(Which includes property owner position, contact info, talking points, and more)

Love & Light,
Nick Norman
RPOA Director of Legislative Affairs
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We only list the committee reports on the most important bills affecting the real estate business.  If you want to get the committee report on one of the other bills contact me & I will show you how to get them on line.  Its not terribly hard to get but not straight ahead either.
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Bills Updated Status summary:We only list the committee reports on the most important bills affecting the real estate business.  If you want to get the committee report on one of the other bills contact me & I will show you how to get them on line.  It’s not terribly hard to get but not straight ahead either.

HB1111, Insurance Not Canceled After Claim   
Title: clarifying the term "valid claim" for property insurance.
Property Owner Position: For
House Status: PASSED / ADOPTED
Senate Status: PASSED / ADOPTED
General Status: Signed by Governor

HB1272, Excluding Fraternity Rental to Member from RSA540.   
Title: excluding certain leases by fraternal or social organizations from the definition of tenancy.
Property Owner Position: LimitedImpact; You Decide
House Status: PASSED / ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT
Senate Status: PASSED / ADOPTED
General Status: Signed by Governor
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Full details on all bills above:HB1111, Insurance Not Canceled After Claim
04/01/2014 at 02:20 PM    LOB 101
Title: Title: clarifying the term "valid claim" for property insurance.

Summary: Does not allow insurance companies to cancel policy after a claim.

Property Owner Position: For

Link to Committee Info:

Email to Committee:
To:
Subject: HB1111

Link to Bill Text: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2014/HB1111.html
Analysis Stated in Bill:

Talking Points:
This bill amends current law which prohibits an insurance company from not renewing a homeowners insurance policy if the homeowner made one valid claim within the previous year or policy period.  The bill adds the following: "Inquiries about coverage do not constitute a valid claim."

Although the bill effects homeowners policies and not commercial policies, it may effect our membership who have owner occupied units, such as duplexes. The problem with the bill is that it is unclear if it opens the door to non-renewal if the homeowner inquires about coverage and does not file a claim, which does not appear to be the intent of the bill. It maybe covered elsewhere in the statute, and common sense would say that an inquiry without a claim should not be grounds for the non renewal of a policy.
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HB1272, Excluding Fraternity Rental to Member from RSA540.
04/22/2014 at 10:10 AM    SH 100
Title: Title: excluding certain leases by fraternal or social organizations from the definition of tenancy.

Summary: This is a one line bill that would exclude residential units owned and rented by a fraternal or social organization to a member from being a residence under RSA 540.

Property Owner Position: Limited Impact; You Decide

Link to Committee Info:

Email to Committee:
To:
Subject: HB1272

Link to Bill Text: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2014/HB1272.html
Analysis Stated in Bill:

Talking Points:
Some of our members felt they were against this bill. Why should these organizations be exempted from the laws we have to follow?
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