SB 579 modifies New Hampshire's school transfer rules to allow parents to request transfers to any school within their school administrative unit (SAU), not just within their immediate district. It directly affects parents or guardians seeking to move their children to another public school within the same SAU or to schools outside the SAU. Key provisions include giving superintendents or service providers authority to approve transfers based on student needs (e.g., academic or social factors) and requiring them to consider school capacity for within-SAU requests. The bill also clarifies tuition arrangements for out-of-SAU transfers and specifies that parents are responsible for transportation. This change streamlines intra-SAU transfers while maintaining existing processes for district-wide moves.
HB 1144 increases the excavation tax rate from $0.02 to $0.04 per cubic yard of earth excavated. This change directly affects property owners who excavate earth, as defined in state law, requiring them to pay double the current tax rate on excavation activities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027, with no immediate fiscal impact for local governments until fiscal year 2030. Based on 2024 excavation volumes (12.1 million cubic yards statewide), this rate change would approximately double annual tax revenue - adding an estimated $242,000 statewide if applied to similar excavation volumes.
HB 1629 repeals New Hampshire's business enterprise tax (codified as RSA 77-E) and removes all references to it from state tax laws. The bill eliminates this tax from statutes governing tax reporting requirements, penalties for late filing, tax credit calculations, and funding for the education trust fund. Businesses that previously paid the business enterprise tax will no longer be subject to this specific tax code. The legislation makes technical changes to remove outdated references without altering other tax rates or creating new obligations.
SB 651 would legalize cannabis use for adults 21 and older in New Hampshire, requiring businesses to obtain licenses and follow regulations similar to alcohol, including age verification for purchases, product testing, and labeling. It establishes a new cannabis tax fund, with revenue from sales allocated to support substance abuse prevention, treatment, and education programs through a dedicated fund managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. These programs would cover evidence-based initiatives, mental health services for dual-diagnosis cases, and public education campaigns about cannabis risks for both youth and adults. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and ensures tax revenue directly supports state efforts to address substance misuse.
SB 186 is a procedural bill authorizing the joint legislative historical committee to accept and hang a portrait of Senator Jeb Bradley in the New Hampshire State House. The bill specifically addresses a gift of Senator Bradley's portrait and does not establish a general rule about portraits (contrary to the misleading title). It requires no changes to existing law beyond this single exception for Senator Bradley's portrait. The bill is sponsored by multiple senators and would take effect upon passage.
This bill requires schools to obtain written parental consent for each new medical service provided to students enrolled in the Medicaid to schools program. It defines "each new service" as any new Medicaid diagnostic code (ICD code), meaning consent must be renewed for each distinct health service. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based Medicaid health services and their parents or legal guardians. Schools must implement this consent process starting January 1, 2026, and the state must submit annual reports on program costs and participation to legislative committees.
This bill requires New Hampshire public school districts to create and post online policies about classroom materials and establish procedures for parents to file complaints about materials they believe are inappropriate for students. The process mandates written complaints, investigations within 10 school days, written responses within 15 days, and detailed justifications for decisions. School boards must review appeals and make all decisions and communications public records, with all requirements to be implemented by November 1, 2026. The bill directly affects school districts, school boards, parents, and students by creating a standardized process for addressing concerns about educational materials.
This bill establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment for anyone who distributes certain controlled drugs (including methamphetamine, PCP, and other Schedule I or II drugs) when death results from the person's use of those substances. It requires that the death must be directly caused by the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of the distributed drug, and prohibits using the decedent's own drug use as a defense. The bill amends the Controlled Drug Act to create this mandatory sentence, clarifying it applies when the distributor's actions are a direct cause of death. It does not prevent other prosecutions for homicide or related drug offenses. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2026.
HB 1104 changes how New Hampshire school districts and chartered public schools are ranked for building aid grants. It removes the previous rule that automatically prioritized applications from the prior year that didn't receive funding due to budget limits, as well as applications with "critical needs" (like unsafe conditions). Instead, all applications will now be ranked solely based on the standard scoring criteria outlined in the law, including factors like unsafe facilities, overcrowding, ADA compliance, and school district fiscal capacity. This change affects every school district applying for building aid grants by altering the ranking process used to determine funding order.
SB 582 increases New Hampshire's base cost for an adequate education from $4,100 to $7,356.01 per student for the 2027-2028 school year, directly affecting public schools receiving state funding. It expands the definition of "adequate education" to include specific resources like teachers, counselors, technology, and facilities maintenance. The bill requires the state to update this cost every two years using actual school data and adjusts funding formulas accordingly. The fiscal note estimates this change will cost approximately $500 million annually starting in 2028, funded through the Education Trust Fund.
HB 1497 establishes clear procedures for removing members of local land use boards (including planning and zoning boards) who engage in serious misconduct or neglect duties. It specifies grounds for removal, such as chronic absenteeism (missing 3+ consecutive meetings or 25% of meetings in a year), violating conflict-of-interest rules, or failing to review materials. The bill requires governing bodies to hold public hearings within 45-60 days of a petition, with removal needing "clear and convincing evidence," and mandates written notice and findings. This directly affects board members and ensures transparent, evidence-based removal processes.
HB 1785 requires all New Hampshire tier 1 highways (excluding I-393) to adopt mileage-based exit numbers that align with federal traffic control standards. This affects drivers traveling on major highways like I-93, I-89, and the Turnpike, as well as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), which must replace existing exit signage by 2038. The bill mandates using the Federal Highway Administration's manual for exit numbering, based on mileage in NHDOT's system, with implementation beginning as early as fiscal year 2031. Costs will be phased over time, with initial planning starting in 2031 and construction through 2038, funded primarily through federal highway grants.
