reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NH Rev Stat § 31:3 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:3 - In General.

    31:3 In General. –||Towns may purchase and hold real and personal estate for the public uses of the inhabitants, and may sell and convey the same; may recognize unions of employees and make and enter into collective bargaining contracts with such unions; and may make any contracts which may be necessary and convenient for the transaction of the public business of the town.|||Source. RS 31:3. CS 32:3. GS 34:3. GL 37:3. PS 40:3. PL 42:3. RL 51:3. RSA 31:3. 1955, 255:1, eff. July 14, 1955.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:3-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:3-a - Suits Involving State-Mandated Programs.

    31:3-a Suits Involving State-Mandated Programs. –||If legal proceedings have been commenced by a town against the state over whether a state program or responsibility violates the provisions of Part I, Article 28-a of the New Hampshire constitution relative to mandated programs, all penalties or liens which the state may impose on the town for failure to comply with the state program or mandate shall be stayed until the court proceedings are completed. For the purposes of this section, the term "town" shall mean every political subdivision of the state, which shall include any village district, school district, city, county, unincorporated town, or unorganized place.|||Source. 1993, 299:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:4 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:4 - Appropriations.

    31:4 Appropriations. –||Towns may at any legal meeting grant and vote such sums of money as they judge necessary for any purpose for which a municipality may act if such appropriation is not prohibited by the laws or by the constitution of this state.|||Source. 1849, 861:1. RS 31:4. CS 32:4. 1862, 2580:3. GS 34:4. 1868, 1:6; 26:1. 1872, 40:1. 1875, 39:1. 1876, 2:1. GL 37:4, 9; 49:10; 50:1. 1883, 69:3. 1889, 7:1; 82:1. PS 40:4. 1891, 1:1. 1895, 29:1. 1897, 23:1. 1899, 13:1, 2; 34:1. 1901, 8:1; 17:1; 54:1. 1905, 18:1. 1909, 73:1. 1911, 81:1; 146:1. 1913, 58:1. 1915, 58:1; 64:1. 1917, 225:1. 1919, 17:1; 41:1. 1923, 27:1, 2. 1925, 11:1. PL 42:4. 1929, 172:1. 1931, 90:1. 1937, 119:2; 133:101. 1939, 20:1; 51:1; 90:1. 1941, 65:1; 74:1. RL 51:4. 1943, 34:1. 1945, 54:1, 2; 106:1. 1947, 130:1. 1949, 42:1; 59:1; 133:3; 161:1. RSA 31:4. 1957, 85:1; 186:1; 287:1. 1961, 81:1; 168:1. 1963, 90:1. 1965, 8:1; 224:1. 1969, 49:1; 125:1; 247:1; 445:1, 2. 1971, 159:1; 310:1, 336:1. 1973, 582:2. 1974, 15:3, 5. 1975, 2:1; 273:1. 1977, 14:1; 263:1. 1979, 156:1. 1983, 187:1, eff. Aug. 10, 1983.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:4-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:4-a - Deficit Reduction.

    31:4-a Deficit Reduction. –||Towns may vote, at any annual meeting, to raise such sums of money as the voters judge necessary for the purpose of reducing an accumulated general fund deficit.|||Source. 1994, 147:1, eff. July 22, 1994.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:5-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:5-a - Appropriations of Disaster Funds.

    31:5-a Appropriations of Disaster Funds. –||Notwithstanding RSA 31:5, the selectmen may call a special town meeting to authorize the expenditure of federal funds allocated to the town as a result of a major disaster as declared by the governor and to appropriate the local matching share for such funds. The authorization to expend federal funds and the appropriation of matching funds shall be the only action taken at such meeting. Any special meeting called under this section shall have the same authority as that of an annual town meeting.|||Source. 1975, 318:1, eff. Aug. 6, 1975.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:5-b (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:5-b - Legalization of Meetings.

    31:5-b Legalization of Meetings. –||I. In the past, irregularities and procedural defects in actions of municipal legislative bodies have been cured by actions of the general court. The procedure in this section is an alternative approach which enables municipalities to effect legalization by local action.||II. Whenever the legislative body of a municipality has voted by the requisite majority, by written ballot or in any other manner legally authorized, to take any legal actions and the vote is subsequently discovered to be procedurally defective, such defects may be cured and legalized by a vote at a special meeting called for the purpose of ratifying the procedurally defective action. Procedurally defective actions shall mean minor procedural irregularities such as failure to comply with statutory requirements regarding time or place of notice, vote, hearing, or wording, or with any procedural act not contrary to the spirit or intent of the law. The ratification of the procedurally defective action shall be subject to the following requirements:||(a) The municipality may, on the authority of the governing body, call a special town meeting for the exclusive purpose of curing such defect.||(b) The special town meeting called for that purpose may not take place less than 21 calendar days after the original vote.||(c) Not less than 7 calendar days prior to the special town meeting, not counting the day of the special town meeting, the governing body shall conduct a public hearing at which the reasons for the special town meeting shall be explained.||(d) The municipality shall comply with all statutory notice and procedural requirements for holding special town meetings.||(e) The necessary majority required to cure the defects shall be the same as the majority as required for passage of the original article.||III. When any procedural defect has been cured under this section, actions of the voters shall be valid as if all statutorily required proceedings had been complied with.|||Source. 1988, 284:1. 1989, 287:1, eff. July 28, 1989.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:6 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:6 - For Holidays.

    31:6 For Holidays. –||City councils may, at any legal meeting, grant and vote money, not exceeding $2,000, for providing municipal Christmas trees or for public patriotic exercises for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day or other holidays.|||Source. 1909, 77:1. 1921, 42:1. PL 42:6. RL 51:6. RSA 31:6. 1969, 445:3, eff. July 3, 1969.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:7 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:7 - Contract with Hospital.

    31:7 Contract with Hospital. –||The treasurer of any town or city which provides a free hospital bed shall make a contract with the hospital concerning the admission of patients, and the rates, rules and regulations governing such admission shall be approved by the selectmen of towns or the city council of cities before the payment of any money to the hospital.|||Source. 1899, 13:3. PL 42:7. RL 51:7.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:8 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:8 - Town Officers' Associations.

    31:8 Town Officers' Associations. –||For the encouragement of equitable taxation and the education of public officials in tax problems and other matters pertaining to the proper and efficient discharge of the duties of their respective offices, each town and city shall pay annually to the New Hampshire Association of Assessing Officials, the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks' Association and the New Hampshire Tax Collectors' Association, such amounts as shall be due for annual membership for its officials therein, providing that the amount paid for any one annual membership hereunder shall not exceed $20. Members of these several organizations in addition to the annual membership fee, shall be entitled to receive their actual expenses incurred in attending the annual convention of their respective associations, the same to be audited by the selectmen of towns and the finance committee of cities and paid out of city and town funds.|||Source. 1921, 51:1. PL 42:8. RL 51:8. 1949, 137:1. RSA 31:8. 1963 60:1. 1971, 372:1. 1973, 122:1. 1977, 31:1, eff. May 28, 1977.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:8-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:8-a - Authorization to Pay Dues.

    31:8-a Authorization to Pay Dues. –||The board of selectmen may vote to pay, from amounts appropriated by the town for town officers' expenses, such amounts as shall be payable for annual membership in the New Hampshire Municipal Association and expenses incurred in attending regular meetings of the said association, provided that the appropriation of such dues has not previously been rejected by a vote at the annual town meeting and provided further that the association shall not record association positions before the general court or committees thereof on matters which do not directly affect New Hampshire towns and cities, nor engage in partisan political activity by endorsing, or otherwise supporting, any political party or candidate.|||Source. 1961, 81:2, eff. June 13, 1961.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:9 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:9 - Legislative Counsel.

    31:9 Legislative Counsel. –||Towns may at any legal meeting authorize the employment by the selectmen of counsel in legislative matters in which the town is directly or indirectly interested, or may ratify the previous employment by the selectmen of such counsel and may grant and vote money therefor.|||Source. 1901, 62:1. PL 42:9. RL 51:9.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:9-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:9-a - Sponsoring Certain Benefits.

    31:9-a Sponsoring Certain Benefits. –||A town may at any legal meeting vote to sponsor a group life, accident, medical, surgical and hospitalization insurance benefit or any combination of such benefits for regular employees of the town and their dependents under which plan said employees agree to pay the premiums. In such case the town treasurer is authorized to withhold from the compensation of such employees who agree to such plan the amount of the premiums and pay over the same to the company furnishing such benefits.|||Source. 1963, 90:3, eff. July 23, 1963.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:9-b (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:9-b - Time for Payment.

    31:9-b Time for Payment. –||All elected and appointed officials of a municipal corporation shall be paid monies due them for services rendered as approved by a vote of the municipality from the time of election, or appointment, to the expiration of the term of office for which they are elected or appointed. Said monies shall be paid after the services have been rendered either weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually as agreed upon between the governing board and the officials involved. As used in this section the words "municipal corporation" shall mean a town, a village district or a school district, but shall not include a city or county.|||Source. 1971, 512:7. 1975, 137:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1976.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:9-c (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:9-c - Lockups.

    31:9-c Lockups. –||The selectmen of any town, upon petition of 30 or more legal voters of the town, shall provide a suitable lockup for the temporary detention of offenders.|||Source. 1874, 53:1. GL 269:25. 1883, 60:1. PS 264:23. PL 378:27. RL 440:26. RSA 570:29. 1973, 532:4, eff. Nov. 1, 1973.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:9-d (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:9-d - Climate Emergency Municipality Unification.

    31:9-d Climate Emergency Municipality Unification. –||I. As a result of sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding from extreme precipitation events, or in anticipation of such events as projected by the Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission final report, "Preparing New Hampshire for Projected Storm Surge, Sea-Level Rise, and Extreme Precipitation," and subsequent science and technical advisory panel reports under RSA 483-B:22, the legislative body of a municipality may declare a climate emergency and engage in planning for municipal cooperation and for municipal boundary adjustment or unification with one or more other municipalities. Municipal boundary adjustment or unification may include (a) the alteration of existing municipal boundaries or (b) the creation of a new municipality incorporating the existing boundaries of such municipalities and the creation of new, unified legislative and governing bodies. During this process a municipality may discontinue public roads pursuant to RSA 231:43 or RSA 231:45.||II. A proposal for municipal boundary adjustment or unification shall be presented in a bill to the general court after approval by a majority vote of each of the governing bodies of the municipalities affected. Approval of the boundary adjustment or unification by the general court and the respective municipalities shall follow the process for alteration of town lines under RSA 51:9. A legislative enactment authorizing the unification of 2 or more municipalities shall establish the form of government for the resulting municipality and a process for electing or appointing all necessary municipal officers if the unification is approved as provided in RSA 51:9.|||Source. 2019, 318:2, eff. Oct. 2, 2019.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:10 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:10 - When Allowed.

    31:10 When Allowed. –||Towns may incur indebtedness and issue notes for temporary loans, other than loans in anticipation of taxes, in any case where moneys belonging to them are lost or rendered unavailable through any default, suspension of payment or other casualty. They may proceed in like manner where moneys received for the use of a school or village district, but not yet paid over thereto, are so lost or rendered unavailable.|||Source. 1925, 1:1. PL 42:10. RL 51:10.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:11 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:11 - Method.

    31:11 Method. –|| The power may be exercised in cities by a 2/3 vote of the city councils. It may be exercised by the selectmen of towns and the governing boards of districts without vote of the voters in town or district meeting. Provided, that no sum in excess of $100,000 shall be so borrowed without vote of the city, town, or district.|||Source. 1925, 1:1. PL 42:11. RL 51:11. 2003, 289:3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:12 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:12 - Amount; Debt Limit.

    31:12 Amount;  Debt Limit. –||Loans so effected shall not exceed the amount of the funds so lost or unavailable; and the proceeds thereof shall be held in lieu of such funds and applied to the same uses. The loans shall not be included in determining the authorized borrowing capacity of the municipality.|||Source. 1925, 1:1. PL 42:12. RL 51:12.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:13 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:13 - Due Date; Refunding.

    31:13 Due Date;  Refunding. –||The notes originally issued for such loans shall be payable not later than the tenth day of December following the next annual tax assessment after their issue; but by vote of the city councils, or at a legal town or district meeting, such notes may be renewed from time to time in whole or in part pending determination of the amount recoverable on account of the funds, or may be refunded in whole or in part by the issue of bonds of the municipality subject in all other respects to the provisions of RSA 33.|||Source. 1925, 1:1. PL 42:13. RL 51:13. RSA 31:13. 1963, 151:3, eff. Aug. 18, 1963.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:14 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:14 - Recovered Funds.

    31:14 Recovered Funds. –||Whenever such municipality recovers any portion of the funds, the net sum so recovered shall be applied to the payment of any balance remaining unpaid on such notes or bonds.|||Source. 1925, 1:1. PL 42:14. RL 51:14.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:15 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:15 - to 31:17 Repealed by 1975, 254:2, eff. Aug. 5, 1975.

    31:15 to 31:17 Repealed by 1975, 254:2, eff. Aug. 5, 1975. –|
NH Rev Stat § 31:17-a (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:17-a - Referendum.

    31:17-a Referendum. –||Upon the written application of 10 percent of the registered voters in a town, presented to the selectmen or one of them at least 15 days before the day prescribed for an annual town meeting, the selectmen shall insert in their warrant for such meeting an article relative to the use of fluoride in the public water system for said town. If the town has an official ballot, the town clerk shall insert on such ballot the following question: "Shall fluoride be used in the public water system?" Beside this question shall be printed the word "yes" and the word "no" with the proper boxes for the voter to indicate his or her choice. If a majority of those voting in a water system that serves one municipality does not approve the use of fluoride in the public water system, no fluoride shall be introduced into the public water system for said town; or if fluoride has prior to said vote, been introduced, such use shall be discontinued until such time as the majority of those voting in the town approve the use of fluoride. After such popular referendum, the selectmen shall not insert an article relative to the use of fluoride in the public water system in the warrant nor shall such question be inserted on the official ballot for a minimum period of 3 years from the date of the last popular referendum and only upon written application at that time of not less than 10 percent of the registered voters of said town. The procedure for a referendum on the use of fluoride in a town that is part of public water system serving more than one municipality shall be the procedure in RSA 485:14-a.|||Source. 1959, 273:1. 1979, 335:1, eff. Aug. 21, 1979. 2004, 225:3, eff. July 1, 2004. 2008, 230:6, eff. Aug. 19, 2008.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:18 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:18 - Isolated Dwellings; Abandoned or Wasting Real Estate.

    31:18 Isolated Dwellings;  Abandoned or Wasting Real Estate. –||Whenever a town may find that real estate in said town is in an isolated location and is uneconomic for farm or home use or has been abandoned or allowed to go to waste, said town may at any legal meeting grant and vote such sums as it may judge necessary to purchase or rent said property and for the repair and improvement of any buildings thereon for the purpose of getting said land and buildings back into productive use and shall by vote authorize the selectmen to make such purchase or such improvements and repairs and to use or dispose of said property. The property acquired under the provisions hereof may be used or disposed of for such recreational, forestry or other purposes as the town may deem to be in the public interest, or may be sold at public auction or private sale by the selectmen or their authorized agents when in the opinion of the selectmen such sale would result in increasing the taxable valuation of the town, or be for the public interest.|||Source. 1941, 66:1. RL 51:18. 1947, 223:1, eff. June 25, 1947.|
NH Rev Stat § 31:19 (2021)
2021 New Hampshire Revised Statutes|Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places|Title 31 - Powers and Duties of Towns|Section 31:19 - In General.

    31:19 In General. –||I. Towns may take and hold in trust gifts, legacies, and devises made to them for the establishment, maintenance, and care of libraries, reading-rooms, schools, and other educational facilities, parks, cemeteries, and burial lots, the planting and care of shade and ornamental trees upon their highways and other public places, and for any other public purpose that is not foreign to their institution or incompatible with the objects of their organization.||II. Towns may authorize the board of selectmen, or town council if there is one, to accept such trusts without further action by the town.||III. Such authority to accept shall continue in effect for one year from the date of town meeting or action by the town council. The authority to accept trusts may be granted for an indefinite period, in which case the warrant article or vote granting such authority shall use the words, "indefinitely" or "until rescinded" or similar language.|||Source. GL 49:7; 50:3. PS 40:5. 1901, 83:1. 1907, 70:1. PL 42:18. 1941, 43:1. RL 51:19. RSA 31:19. 1995, 137:1, eff. May 24, 1995.|