Budget & Taxes

passed · New Hampshire · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 1516: allowing municipalities to vote to require that pie charts, bar charts, and QR codes be placed on property tax bills depicting where and how tax dollars are being allocated.

HB 1516 requires New Hampshire municipalities to include visual aids and digital links on property tax bills showing how tax dollars are spent. Specifically, tax bills must feature a pie chart breaking down tax categories (state education, school, city/town, county, and precincts), a 10-year line graph of spending trends, and QR codes linking to detailed budget information online. Municipalities must post this data annually on their websites (or in physical locations if no website exists), including links to budget adoption minutes, reports, and tax cap details. The bill takes effect April 1, 2027, with estimated costs under $10,000 per municipality for implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates transparency in budget allocation via visual aids, promoting fiscal responsibility and taxpayer accountability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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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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signed · New Hampshire · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 1827: requiring the department of education to conduct a confidential criminal history record check on all prospective educational personnel.

HB 1827 establishes a grant program to address funding gaps in New Hampshire school districts that lack sufficient fiscal capacity to provide an adequate education. The bill requires eligible districts to submit annual accountability plans detailing how grant funds will support academic growth in K-12, with progress reports due by January 15 each even year. It applies to all public school districts, including cooperative districts and those with tuition agreements, mandating that districts demonstrate how funds improve student achievement through standardized assessments. Crucially, the bill does not provide new state funding or authorize new positions - only creating a framework for existing Education Trust Fund resources to be allocated based on need. The program will take effect July 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state grant program to address school funding gaps, increasing public education appropriations and fiscal capacity for districts.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program to address school funding gaps for adequate education, requiring accountability plans for K-12 academic growth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

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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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1176: relative to the display of license plates on vehicles.

HB 1176 removes New Hampshire's requirement for vehicles to display a front license plate, affecting all registered vehicles in the state. The bill amends RSA 261:75, II to eliminate the language requiring plates to be displayed "on the rear of the vehicle" (previously mandating both front and rear plates). This change directly impacts approximately 194,000 vehicles registered annually with new plate types, reducing state revenue by about $776,000 and expenditures by $679,000 yearly based on current plate production costs. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces state revenue by $776k annually through license plate fee changes, weakening fiscal management per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 614: establishing multiple-caregiver self-insured risk coverage arrangements for nonprofit and for-profit providers and servicers.

SB 614 establishes shared insurance programs (pooled risk management) for child care centers and foster family homes to reduce their insurance costs. It requires at least 10 facilities to form a pool, allowing them to collectively manage risks like liability, property damage, and workers' compensation. The program must operate as a legal entity under New Hampshire law, undergo annual financial audits, and be exempt from standard state insurance regulation and taxation. This directly affects child care centers and foster family homes by providing a lower-cost alternative to traditional insurance through collective risk-sharing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts pooled insurance programs from state taxation, providing tax relief for child care centers and foster homes per bill's tax exemption provision.92% confidence

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1418: setting a minimum affirmative vote for new or expanded spending for SB 2 towns.

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.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRequires 15% voter turnout + majority approval for new spending proposals, restricting budget expansions in SB 2 towns.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1654: requiring a property owner to pay all taxes or charges on their property prior to being issued certain building or occupancy permits.

HB 1654 requires property owners to pay all back taxes and other charges on their property before being issued certain building or occupancy permits. The bill amends state law to allow building inspectors, with local legislative authorization, to withhold these permits until all outstanding financial obligations are settled. This directly affects property owners with unpaid taxes who seek to build or occupy a property. The key mechanism is that permit issuance is contingent on full payment of all taxes and charges due on the property.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires full tax payment before permits, promoting fiscal responsibility by ensuring collection of outstanding obligations and preventing revenue loss for state budgets.95% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRequires tax payment before permits, creating financial barrier to housing development and limiting new construction, aligning with 'limits housing development' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Building Codes Landlords Property Taxes

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and making appropriations therefor.

HB 1786 imposes a semi-annual state assessment on residential properties valued over $1 million that are not used as a primary residence (luxury second homes), directly affecting owners of such properties. The revenue generated funds statewide housing development programs, including $15 million for workforce training in building trades and municipal grants for housing production. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund for demolishing vacant buildings, expanding tax credits for housing infrastructure, and establishing a commission to study state financing for housing. The bill aims to address New Hampshire's housing shortage by leveraging new revenue to support affordable housing construction and workforce development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on luxury second homes to fund housing programs, directly advancing fiscal allocation for essential services under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds housing development via luxury home tax, allocates $15M for workforce training and municipal grants, and creates dedicated fund for vacant building demolition.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill allocates $15M for workforce training in building trades, directly advancing labor and employment through skills development for construction jobs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Property Taxes Workforce Development

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1835: relative to the formula for distribution of aid to school districts.

HB 1835 updates New Hampshire's funding formula for special education by requiring the state to reimburse school districts 80% of the actual costs for services provided to students with disabilities, as defined by federal law (IDEA). This reimbursement must be paid within 90 days of the district submitting billing information, addressing delays in current funding cycles. School districts can now borrow funds in advance of receiving state payments and count those borrowed amounts as revenue when setting property tax rates. The bill directly affects all public school districts serving students with disabilities and aims to align state payments more closely with documented special education expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 80% state reimbursement for special education costs, increasing state budget allocation for public education funding within 90 days of billing.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires 80% state reimbursement for special education costs within 90 days, directly increasing funding for school districts serving students with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax School Funding Special Education

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