Budget & Taxes (Procurement)

SB 492 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services to lease or license property it owns, directly affecting the department and private entities renting that property. The bill requires lessees (unless tax-exempt) to pay local property taxes on the leased property, similar to private owners, and outlines penalties for nonpayment. It creates a dedicated "Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services Property Fund" to manage revenues from leases, which can be used for purchasing, maintaining, or operating department property and projects. The fund ensures these revenues are kept separate and can cover related expenses like property maintenance, administrative costs, or bond payments.

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.

SB 429 requires all public schools in New Hampshire to install trauma kits containing specific emergency supplies (tourniquets, bleeding control bandages, gloves, scissors, and official training materials) by July 2026. The bill establishes a dedicated "trauma kit fund" in the state treasury, appropriating $25,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover kit procurement and distribution. It applies specifically to public schools (excluding vacant or under-construction buildings) and mandates the Department of Administrative Services to determine kit placement priorities. The law does not require school staff to use the kits during emergencies and specifies exact contents based on national emergency response standards.

HB 1243 requires all New Hampshire executive branch agencies (like departments and commissions) to base every contracting and investment decision solely on directly benefiting state citizens. The bill mandates that agencies certify contracts meet this standard and prohibits considering any purpose unrelated to providing citizens with goods, services, or benefits - except for federal law compliance or multistate programs that directly help residents. It has minimal fiscal impact, costing less than $10,000 annually through 2029, and applies to all state agencies making purchasing or investment choices.

This bill expands the permitted uses of impact fees - charges imposed on new development - to include purchasing safety equipment for police, fire, and emergency services. It directly affects municipalities that collect impact fees, allowing them to allocate these funds toward existing safety vehicle fleets (like police cars or fire trucks) rather than solely for infrastructure like roads or water systems. The key change amends the definition of "impact fee" in state law to explicitly authorize this use, adding it to the existing list of approved purposes. This is a concrete policy adjustment to the existing fee structure, not a new program.