Joe Sweeney, Executive Councilor for New Hampshire, said on April 28 that “House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee had the option to slam the door shut on an income tax by voting with the Republicans, but they decided to keep that door open.”
The statement follows a party-line vote in committee advancing a constitutional amendment that would prohibit a state income tax.
The issue comes as partisan divisions persist in the New Hampshire legislature over whether to enshrine a ban on personal income taxes in the state constitution. State Rep. Joe Sweeney released his video statement following the House Ways and Means Committee’s 11-9 vote to advance an amended version of CACR 12 for full House consideration. The measure previously passed the Senate 16-8 and is scheduled for House floor action on May 14, as reported by InDepthNH. New Hampshire has never had a broad-based personal income tax.
“They don’t want a constitutional ban on an income tax in New Hampshire. It seems pretty clear to me that, one day, they want to have an income tax in our state—and that’s just wrong,” Sweeney wrote on X. “We’re only ever one election away from becoming one of those high-tax states. We always hold the line here in New Hampshire against the income tax.”
According to the NH Fiscal Policy Institute, New Hampshire local governments derive 61% of their revenue from property taxes, which is the highest share of any state in the nation. A typical $500,000 home faces property tax bills ranging from roughly $1,310 to $18,270 annually, depending on community location. The state’s reliance on property taxes has fueled ongoing debates about affordability for homeowners and renters alike.
New Hampshire maintains neither a broad-based personal income tax nor a general sales tax, contributing to one of the lowest overall state and local tax burdens in the country. The Granite State ranks among top states for tax competitiveness, according to the Tax Foundation.
Sweeney has represented Rockingham District 25 in the New Hampshire House of Representatives as a Republican since 2022 and previously served other districts. He also sits on Salem Town Council and holds degrees in political science and public policy from the University of New Hampshire, according to the House GOP leadership website.
