HB 1403 establishes new certification requirements for school business administrators in New Hampshire. To qualify, candidates must either complete a state-approved business administration program (at bachelor's or master's level) or hold a business degree with equivalent experience and a professional development plan. They must submit documentation including work history, education records, and three professional references to the bureau of credentialing. The bill specifies required skills in key areas like financial management, human resources, and legal compliance for school business operations. This directly affects all individuals seeking certification for the position in New Hampshire school districts.
HB 1721 limits new renewable energy system enrollment under New Hampshire's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. It prohibits any new systems from joining after a six-month window following its effective date (July 1, 2026), restricting eligibility to systems operational before 2026. The bill caps renewable energy certificate (REC) eligibility at 20 years per system, with existing systems already over 15 years receiving up to five additional years of credits. It also requires the Department of Energy to annually reduce Alternative Compliance Payments (ACPs) as the number of eligible systems declines, directly affecting future RPS program funding.
HB 1418 requires that in towns and school districts using the official ballot referendum system (SB 2 towns), any new or expanded spending proposal - such as a town operating budget or school district appropriation - must meet two conditions to pass: at least 15% of registered voters must cast ballots on the proposal, and a majority of those voting must approve it. This applies specifically to municipalities that have adopted the official ballot meeting format under RSA 40:13. The bill does not change spending amounts but sets a minimum voter participation and approval threshold for budget decisions. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1655 establishes annual fees on properties with waterfront access or deeded water rights to state-owned dams to fund dam maintenance. Property owners with waterfront access pay $100 yearly, while those with deeded water rights pay $50 yearly, with both fees deposited into a dedicated dam maintenance fund. Working farms and properties in current use are exempt from these fees. Municipalities collect the fees, report to the state, and may retain $5 per property for administrative costs, with unpaid fees subject to interest and liens.
HB 1267 requires school districts to create a policy that prevents school attorneys, law enforcement, and other non-school staff from questioning minor students (under 18) without written permission from a parent or guardian. For students aged 18 or older, the policy must ask if they want their parents notified before questioning, and if they consent, parents can be present. The policy also ensures parents or guardians can attend questioning and bring their own attorney, with exceptions only for child welfare investigations by designated social services. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.
HB 1701 reestablishes New Hampshire's College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership (NH GRIP) program, which provides financial incentives to college graduates who work for participating employers in the state. The bill requires participating employers to pay graduates a minimum of $1,000 annually for up to four years of employment, with priority given to New Hampshire-based small businesses and employers in sectors facing workforce shortages (like healthcare and technology). Employers must post qualifying positions online and sign agreements with graduates, while the Department of Business and Economic Affairs administers the program and publishes annual reports on participation and outcomes. This directly affects recent New Hampshire college graduates seeking employment and participating employers who choose to join the program.
HB 1176 removes New Hampshire's requirement for vehicles to display a front license plate, affecting all registered vehicles in the state. The bill amends RSA 261:75, II to eliminate the language requiring plates to be displayed "on the rear of the vehicle" (previously mandating both front and rear plates). This change directly impacts approximately 194,000 vehicles registered annually with new plate types, reducing state revenue by about $776,000 and expenditures by $679,000 yearly based on current plate production costs. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1616 prohibits New Hampshire state agencies and local governments (like cities and towns) from using public funds to advertise vaccines. It bans both direct advertising by these entities and payments to contractors for vaccine promotion. The law specifically targets spending from state or local budgets on vaccine-related advertising, including through federal immunization grants. This bill does not affect vaccine access, safety, or public health programs - only the use of public funds for promotional activities.
HB 1834 sets a fixed enrollment cap of 10,000 students for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, instead of allowing the cap to increase to 12,500 under current law. This directly affects families applying for EFA funds to cover private school costs and participating private schools. The bill freezes the cap until 2028, requiring any future increase only if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior year's cap. The fiscal note estimates this change would save approximately $6.3 million in state spending for fiscal year 2027 by limiting enrollment to 11,250 students instead of 12,500. The bill does not alter eligibility rules or funding per student.
SB 439 allows municipalities to regulate data centers within commercial and industrial zoning districts. It defines "data center" as facilities primarily for digital data storage, processing, and transmission (excluding small, owner-occupied facilities under 25% of building space). Municipalities can establish local rules for these centers through their planning boards, with approval from the local legislative body. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.
This New Hampshire resolution requests Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose term limits for members of both the House of Representatives and Senate. It specifically aims to establish a limit on the number of terms a person may serve in either chamber. The resolution is part of a state-level effort to gather support from two-thirds of states, as required by the Constitution, to trigger such a convention. It does not create term limits itself but seeks to initiate the process for proposing them through a constitutional amendment.
HB 1322 reestablishes a Judicial Conduct Commission to investigate complaints about judges and clerks (including court staff like clerks of court and registrars) and recommend to the legislature whether impeachment or removal actions are warranted. The commission will operate concurrently with the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s existing disciplinary authority, meaning it does not replace the court’s power to discipline judges but provides a structured process for handling complaints. Key provisions include defining "judge" and "clerk" broadly, establishing an executive director to manage operations, and ensuring recommendations align with constitutional separation of powers. This bill restores a mechanism for judicial accountability that was lost after the previous commission was repealed in 2024.
