This bill repeals a $3,750 per pupil cap on targeted education aid for municipalities with 5,000 or more average daily student enrollment (ADMR). It directly affects only the City of Manchester, which has exceeded this threshold. The change removes a longstanding restriction that limited how much additional aid cities could receive for student needs. The state estimates this will cost approximately $9 million annually starting in 2028, funded from the Education Trust Fund.
HB 1495 allows New Hampshire school districts to borrow against expected state reimbursements (like education funds) and count those borrowed funds as revenue when setting property tax rates. The bill requires that borrowed funds be used only for the same purpose as the anticipated reimbursement. School districts must notify the state revenue department in writing about the amount to be counted as revenue, and this borrowing is exempt from standard debt limit restrictions under RSA 33. The bill directly affects school districts receiving state education reimbursements by changing how they can manage and report anticipated funds.
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.
HB 1832 adds students with at least one parent on active military duty (with a permanent change of station in New Hampshire) to the priority eligibility list for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). This means military-connected students who relocate to New Hampshire due to their parent's active duty orders will now qualify for priority enrollment in the EFA program, alongside existing priority groups like low-income students. The bill amends eligibility criteria in RSA 194-F:1, adding a new category (d) specifically for these military families. It takes effect 60 days after passage and has an estimated fiscal impact of $150,300 in FY 2027 for approximately 30 additional eligible students.
HB 1224 modifies how towns calculate their default budget when no new budget is approved by the deadline. It specifically allows funding for vacant public safety positions (like police, fire, or emergency medical roles) that were listed in last year's approved budget, provided they remain vacant before the previous budget was approved. Unspent funds for these positions must reduce local taxes instead of being reallocated to other budget areas. This change directly affects New Hampshire towns using the default budget process for official ballot town meetings. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 1760 repeals a requirement that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services seek a waiver to impose pharmacy copayments and premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries, including those in the New Hampshire Advantage Health Care Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. It removes specific law sections (2025, 141:65; RSA 126-AA:2-a; and RSA 126-A:3, IX) that would have mandated these cost-sharing measures. The bill appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to cover the resulting revenue shortfall for the 2026-2027 biennium. This change directly eliminates new costs for Medicaid participants while maintaining program funding stability.
HB 1227 modifies how local tax caps are calculated for towns and school districts in New Hampshire. It requires that new annual debt payments from bond votes (approved at meetings) be added to the tax base once repayment begins. This change affects the calculation of the base amount used to determine the annual tax cap limit, which is adjusted for inflation and population changes. The bill applies to existing tax caps without needing towns to re-adopt them, effective 60 days after passage.
HB 366 increases the annual funding floor for New Hampshire school building aid grants from $50 million to $60 million, starting July 2025. It requires at least $5 million of this total to fund projects that began construction between 2009 and 2019 but were delayed due to prior funding limitations, prioritizing these under existing application rules. This change directly affects school districts seeking construction or renovation funding, with local districts expected to receive an estimated $45-50 million more annually starting in 2026. The bill does not create new state spending but adjusts existing appropriations from the Education Trust Fund.
HB 1427 restricts municipalities, counties, and school districts in New Hampshire from issuing bonds except for declared emergencies, repairs to critical infrastructure (like water systems or public safety facilities), securing matching federal funds, or voter approval through a majority vote. The bill prohibits most bond issuance after January 1, 2027, with a temporary 4-year transition period (until 2031) allowing limited bonds under strict budget caps. Violations would make bonds voidable by taxpayers, with courts able to award legal fees to successful plaintiffs. This directly affects local governments’ ability to finance projects without meeting these specific criteria.
HB 1557 modifies how New Hampshire allocates state aid for special education costs. It lowers the threshold requiring state aid from 3.5 times the state average per-pupil expenditure to 1.5 times, making it easier for school districts to qualify for assistance. The bill removes the requirement to proportionally reduce funding if state funds are insufficient, ensuring districts receive at least 80% of their entitled aid. This change affects school districts serving students with special needs, redistributing existing funding without new state expenditures.
