Finance

SB 481 directs the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services to sell the Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) property in Manchester. The department must negotiate the sale (at market value or higher), consult with Manchester city officials and business agencies, and get approval from the governor and council. Proceeds from the sale must go to the state general fund if finalized by June 30, 2027, or to the Youth Development Center Settlement Fund if sold after that date. The bill also requires the department to request annual funding to maintain the property until sold, subject to legislative approval.

HB 1042 raises the state's unified contingent credit limit for New Hampshire's Business Finance Authority from $200 million to $450 million, effective June 1, 2026. This change directly affects the authority's ability to provide state-backed loans and guarantees for eligible business projects and programs. The bill modifies RSA 162-A:22 to increase the aggregate limit on these state guarantees, allowing the authority to support more financing for businesses without requiring new legislative approval for each project.

SB 541 appropriates $16.5 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Services for Phase 2 of the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Project. It directly funds infrastructure (including pumps, storage tanks, and pipelines) to increase water supply by over 2 million gallons daily for towns affected by PFAS contamination and rising demand. The bill requires that no public utility ratepayer face adverse costs from this project. Funds are nonlapsing, meaning they remain available for use beyond the fiscal year without needing annual renewal.

SB 600 requires New Hampshire's governor to submit quarterly budget reports starting October 1, 2026, detailing the status of the state's general and education trust funds. These reports must compare actual versus planned revenue and spending, including current spending figures and future projections. The reports are submitted to the state's fiscal committee in the General Court. This bill affects the governor's office and the fiscal committee by establishing a regular reporting schedule for key state funds. It does not change existing funding levels or create new spending.

SB 603 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to internally transfer existing state funds to cover any shortfall in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) funding caused by reduced federal support. It applies specifically to the 2026-2027 budget period and mandates that transfers exceeding $100,000 require approval from the Fiscal Committee, governor, and council. The bill does not provide new funding or create new costs; it simply directs the department to reallocate current resources to maintain SNAP operations. This addresses an expected $4.6 million state cost increase starting October 2026 due to federal funding changes. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with no net fiscal impact as it only shifts existing funds.