Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

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 1515 repeals the child care grant program that provided recruitment and retention grants to New Hampshire child care employers through the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill removes the $7.5 million annual appropriation (from federal TANF funds) that was intended to support these grants, though the program was already unworkable due to federal restrictions. This change directly affects child care providers who previously could have accessed these grants. The repeal has no fiscal impact as the program could not operate under federal guidelines, and no new funding or changes to services are enacted.

This bill eliminates existing premiums for New Hampshire's Medicaid programs (Granite Advantage for adults and CHIP for children) and limits any cost-sharing fees under expanded Medicaid to $5 per service. It repeals current premium requirements that generated approximately $16 million annually in state revenue, requiring a $16 million appropriation in FY2027 to offset this loss. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with the $5 cost-sharing cap applying starting October 1, 2028. The bill directly affects current Medicaid recipients by removing premium payments and modifies state budgeting for the Medicaid program.