[BroadHopper]

Trespassing changes
Starting Jan. 1, property owners who are receiving a “current use” tax credit will be allowed to post specific anti-trespassing signs that some Republicans say will help curb illegal immigration at the northern border.

Currently, landowners may receive a 20 percent reduction in the assessed value of their land – and with it a 20 percent reduction in property taxes – if they decide to designate their land for current use. That means they allow anyone to engage in “skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, or nature observation” on their property, unless it would interfere with agricultural operations.

House Bill 1018 allows those property owners to continue benefiting from that tax reduction. But it also allows them to set up “no trespassing” signs that say “No trespass except for skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, or nature observation.”

Supporters of the effort such as Senate President Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican, argued the signs would help federal and local law enforcement agencies to better intercept undocumented migrants who might be using a property under current use to travel or camp.