Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 604: making an appropriation to the university system of New Hampshire.

SB 604 appropriates $14 million to New Hampshire's University System for fiscal year 2027 to restore funding reduced in 2025, and $3.5 million to the Community College System to maintain a freeze on credit-hour tuition rates. The bill directly affects public universities and community colleges in the state, providing concrete funding for operations and tuition stability. It authorizes the governor to draw these funds from the General Fund, effective July 1, 2026, with no additional revenue impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestores $14M university funding and maintains $3.5M for tuition freeze, directly increasing public education appropriations and stabilizing costs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestores $14M university funding and freezes community college tuition, directly advancing higher education financial stability and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1799: relative to required state funding for providing an opportunity for an adequate education.

HB 1799 defines what constitutes a "constitutionally adequate education" in New Hampshire, requiring the state to fund specific resources to ensure all students have access to quality education regardless of location. The bill mandates funding for key staff (teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses), instructional materials, technology, facilities maintenance, and transportation starting in 2026. It directs school districts and the state to develop plans addressing educational outcome disparities between districts. This directly affects public school districts and the state's education budget, shifting responsibility to cover these defined costs rather than relying solely on local property taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding for education resources (staff, materials, facilities) starting 2026, directly increasing public service appropriations per budget & taxes topic definition.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding for staff, materials, technology, and infrastructure to ensure constitutionally adequate education access and address disparities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates state funding for technology resources in schools to ensure educational access, directly advancing technology access for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Curriculum School Funding

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 407: making an appropriation for each full-time student eligible for the in-state tuition rate enrolled in the university system of New Hampshire.

SB 407 appropriates $300 per full-time, in-state eligible student enrolled in New Hampshire's university system starting in fiscal year 2027, to reduce in-state tuition costs. It applies to students who qualify for in-state tuition rates and requires annual calculation of eligible students on October 1. The total annual appropriation is capped at $5.4 million, with funds drawn from the General Fund and non-lapsing (carrying over if unused). This bill directly affects in-state undergraduate students at the University System of New Hampshire by providing state funding to lower their tuition expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5.4M from General Fund to reduce in-state tuition costs, funding essential education program with fiscal cap.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $300/student to reduce in-state tuition costs for university students, directly funding higher education access and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 645: relative to income eligibility for the New Hampshire child care scholarship program and reallocating certain revenue to fund the program.

SB 645 expands New Hampshire's child care scholarship program to include families with gross monthly income at or below 95% of the state median income for their family size, increasing access for low-income households. The bill funds this expansion by redirecting 2% of tobacco tax revenue, liquor sales revenue, and video lottery revenue to the program, avoiding new state appropriations. This change, effective July 1, 2026, will require approximately $10.5 million annually starting in fiscal year 2027. The policy directly affects families seeking child care assistance, expanding eligibility without new taxes or general fund spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing tobacco, liquor, and lottery tax revenues to fund child care scholarships without new appropriations, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 541: relative to capital appropriations for regional drinking water infrastructure.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $16.5M from General Fund for essential water infrastructure, directly funding public service without increasing ratepayer costs. Aligns with funding public services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds infrastructure to address PFAS contamination (environmental pollutant), directly protecting water resources and aligning with pollution control.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Drinking Water

passed · New Hampshire · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 1566: directing the department of health and human services to seek clarification from the Administration for Children and Families regarding the use of TANF reserve funds and repealing the requirement that the department of health and human services' biennial budget request include funding for certain child care workforce programs.

HB 1566 creates a backup state funding source to support child care employers in New Hampshire if federal funds cannot be used for recruitment and benefit grants. Specifically, it appropriates $15 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 (starting July 1, 2026) if the federal government denies permission to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reserve funds for this purpose. The bill directly affects New Hampshire child care employers, providing them with grants to improve staff recruitment and benefits. This funding is contingent on the federal government's decision, which the Department of Health and Human Services anticipates will be denied, making the $15 million general fund appropriation likely to be used. The policy change ensures continued support for child care staffing without relying on federal approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $15M from general fund to fund child care employer grants, directly supporting state budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1480: raising the meals and rooms tax rate.

HB 1480 increases New Hampshire's meals and rooms tax rate from 8.5% to 9% for businesses selling meals and lodging (like restaurants and hotels). This change directly affects those businesses, requiring them to collect the higher tax from customers and remit it to the state. The bill amends tax code sections to reflect the new rate, impacting revenue collected on taxable meals and room rentals. The fiscal note estimates this will generate approximately $20-28 million annually in additional state revenue for the General Fund and Education Trust Fund starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases meals/rooms tax rate to generate $20-28M annually in new state revenue, directly strengthening budget funding through higher tax collection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1242: requiring county convention budget estimates to delineate between funding used for operations of county government and funding used for other state or federal government purposes.

HB 1242 requires New Hampshire county commissioners to clearly separate funding for county government operations from funds used for state or federal purposes in their annual itemized budget recommendations. This applies to all county budget submissions delivered to county convention members, town selectmen, city mayors, and the secretary of state before December 1 each year. The bill mandates that budgets explicitly show this distinction in the "objects for which money is required" section, rather than lumping all funding together. It does not change funding amounts but improves transparency by clarifying how money is allocated between local county services and external government programs. This affects all counties preparing their annual budget recommendations under RSA 24:21-a.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates clear separation of county operational vs. state/federal funding in budgets, promoting fiscal transparency and accountability per fiscal management standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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failed · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 406: making an appropriation to the city of Nashua for the purpose of purchasing the former Daniel Webster College property.

SB 406 appropriates $20 million from the state General Fund to the city of Nashua for purchasing the former Daniel Webster College property. The bill states this property, currently owned by a foreign entity near Nashua's airport (deemed critical infrastructure), must be acquired to prevent foreign ownership near sensitive infrastructure. The funds are designated for the 2026-2027 biennium and will be drawn directly from the state treasury. This is a direct funding mechanism with no revenue impact on the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $20M from state General Fund for critical infrastructure purchase, directly funding a budget allocation without tax changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement State Budget

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1661: relative to expanding the housing finance authority's community heroes program and makes an appropriation therefor.

HB 1661 expands New Hampshire's Housing Finance Authority's "Community Heroes" program to provide homeownership assistance to essential workers. It appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $1.5 million annually thereafter from the General Fund to fund the program, with no more than 10% allowed for administrative costs. The program specifically targets eligible workers in healthcare, childcare, elder care, law enforcement, firefighting, education, and active military service, allowing them to use funds for down payments, closing costs, or interest rate reductions. The bill requires the Housing Finance Authority to establish rules defining eligibility and takes effect July 1, 2028, for the annual appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1.5M annually from General Fund to fund homeownership assistance for essential workers, directly increasing public program funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands homeownership assistance for essential workers via $1.5M annual funding, directly advancing affordable housing access through targeted financial support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTargets essential workers (healthcare, education, etc.) with homeownership assistance funding, expanding financial support for labor force stability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Homeownership Housing Finance

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