Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

HB 1417 allows New Hampshire towns, cities, and villages to implement a land value tax (LVT) system, where land is taxed at a higher rate than buildings or improvements. Municipalities must hold a public hearing and adopt the system via local vote, setting separate tax rates for land value (higher) and improvement value (lower or zero), with a transition plan. The bill requires transparent public reporting of parcel-level land and improvement values and appropriates funds to the Department of Revenue Administration for implementation support. It ensures existing education and county taxes remain unchanged, and all state tax exemptions still apply first to building improvements before land. This policy shifts the tax burden from buildings to land ownership, aiming to encourage efficient land use and housing development.

HB 1701 reestablishes New Hampshire's College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership (NH GRIP) program, which provides financial incentives to college graduates who work for participating employers in the state. The bill requires participating employers to pay graduates a minimum of $1,000 annually for up to four years of employment, with priority given to New Hampshire-based small businesses and employers in sectors facing workforce shortages (like healthcare and technology). Employers must post qualifying positions online and sign agreements with graduates, while the Department of Business and Economic Affairs administers the program and publishes annual reports on participation and outcomes. This directly affects recent New Hampshire college graduates seeking employment and participating employers who choose to join the program.

SB 517 allows New Hampshire school districts to expand free meal eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level, raising the current standard. Districts opting into this program will receive state reimbursement covering 50% of the cost difference between free meals and reduced-price meals, with the remaining 50% covered by the school district. The bill appropriates $107,000 for administrative support and $250,000 for meal reimbursements and software to enable online application systems for free/reduced-price meals. This directly affects low-income students and school districts that choose to implement the expanded eligibility starting July 2026.

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.