Budget & Taxes

failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 607: relative to funding the Hampton Beach area commission and making appropriations therefor.

HB 607 establishes a dedicated "Hampton Beach master plan fund" within the state treasurer's office to support the Hampton Beach area commission's operations and initiatives. The bill appropriates $5,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and another $5,000 for 2026-2027, both drawn from the state General Fund, to cover commission expenses like staff costs and project implementation. The fund is designed to be non-lapsing, meaning unspent money remains available for future use rather than returning to the general state budget. This directly affects the commission's ability to manage and fund activities in Hampton Beach, including community projects and planning efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $10k total from General Fund for Hampton Beach commission operations, directly funding government spending per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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failed · New Hampshire · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 629: raising the cost of a boat decal fee and allocating the funds collected by such fees to the dam maintenance fund.

HB 629 establishes two new fees to fund state dam maintenance: a $5 boat registration fee for all vessel owners and a $1.58-per-foot shoreline fee on taxable waterfront properties maintained by state-owned dams. The boat fee applies to all annual registrations, while the shoreline fee affects property owners with waterfronts behind dams, covering approximately 4.8 million feet of shoreline. Together, these fees are projected to generate about $8 million annually starting July 2025, with all funds directed to the Dam Maintenance Fund (RSA 482:55) for dam operations, maintenance, and repairs. The bill does not change existing fees but adds these new revenue streams to address dam upkeep needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new fees ($5 boat, $1.58/ft shoreline) to fund dam maintenance, generating $8M annually for state infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 734: relative to the state education property tax and the low- and moderate-income homeowners property tax relief program.

This bill requires all state education property tax revenue to be deposited directly into the Education Trust Fund, replacing previous municipal handling. It expands eligibility for property tax relief by raising income thresholds to $65,000 annually for single homeowners and $77,500 for married households or heads of household. The bill mandates annual inflation adjustments to all relief amounts and establishes a committee to study extending relief to renters and improving the program’s data and design. It takes effect July 1, 2025, applying to tax periods ending after April 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands property tax relief for low/moderate-income homeowners by raising income thresholds and adding inflation adjustments, directly advancing tax relief policies.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects all state education property tax revenue to Education Trust Fund, strengthening funding allocation mechanism per bill's core mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Revenue

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 8, 2026

HB 675: limiting total central office administrative expenses by school districts and requiring reporting of central office administrative expenses to the department of education.

HB 675 increases the statewide education property tax revenue cap to $773 million for 2025 and requires municipalities to remit excess tax collections to the state education trust fund. It limits school district spending growth on non-facilities expenses by tying annual appropriations to the 3-year average Consumer Price Index (CPI), with stricter rules after 2027. The bill also raises the base per-pupil adequacy cost from $4,100 to $7,356 and mandates annual reporting of district spending to the Department of Education. These changes directly affect school districts and municipalities managing education funding, effective July 1, 2025. (Note: The bill’s title mentioning "central office expenses" does not align with the actual provisions; this summary reflects the actual tax and spending mechanisms described in the bill text.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRaises per-pupil adequacy cost from $4,100 to $7,356 and mandates remittance of excess tax collections to state education trust fund, directly increasing education funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRaises base per-pupil adequacy cost from $4,100 to $7,356 and increases education property tax revenue cap to $773M, directly increasing school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue State Budget School Funding

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passed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 105: creating a new conservation license plate and directing the additional fee to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.

HB 105 creates a new "Love NH Lakes" license plate for New Hampshire vehicle owners, featuring a loon on a lake design alongside the "Live Free or Die" logo. Drivers who purchase this plate pay a $30 fee (in addition to standard registration costs), with all remaining revenue after covering production and administrative expenses directed to the cyanobacteria mitigation fund. The fund uses these resources to support projects addressing harmful algae blooms (cyanobacteria) in New Hampshire waterways. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who choose to buy the special plate, with commercial use of the plate design also contributing royalties to the same fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $30 license plate fee directed to cyanobacteria mitigation fund, funding environmental program via new revenue stream85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDirects $30 plate fee revenue to cyanobacteria mitigation fund for projects addressing harmful algae blooms (pollution control), explicitly funding environmental protection efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Jan 7, 2026

SB 261: requiring that custodial interrogations be recorded, establishing a fund to make grants to state law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment to enable such recordings, and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 261 requires that all custodial interrogations (questioning of individuals in police custody) be electronically recorded with audio and/or video, with exceptions for equipment failure or specific requests by the person being questioned. The bill establishes a $50,000 fund to help state law enforcement agencies purchase recording equipment, prioritizing departments without any recording capability. It creates a presumption that unrecorded statements cannot be used as evidence in court, though this can be overcome with reasonable justification. The law applies to all state law enforcement agencies conducting interrogations at police stations, jails, or other detention facilities and would take effect 9 months after passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $50,000 for law enforcement recording equipment grants, directly funding a state program per budget allocation language.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires recording custodial interrogations to enhance police accountability, protects defendant rights by presuming unrecorded statements inadmissible, and funds equipment for compliance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Courts Law Enforcement Policing

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 83: relative to licenses for primary and secondary game operators.

SB 83 establishes a fund to reimburse municipalities for property tax revenue lost due to exemptions for elderly, disabled, blind, and deaf residents. The bill authorizes video lottery terminals (VLTs) at facilities licensed for charitable gaming, requiring them to operate with an 88% minimum payback rate and distributing 40% of VLT revenue to charitable organizations (35%), a special fund (25%), the reimbursement fund (25%), and retirement benefits (50%). It also creates a voluntary statewide self-exclusion database to help people with problem gambling avoid gambling venues. The bill renames the state lottery commission to the "New Hampshire lottery and gaming commission" and sets a July 1, 2025 effective date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates reimbursement fund for municipal tax losses using VLT revenue, directly addressing budget management and tax offset through fiscal allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue

failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 253: relative to interest-bearing pooled trust accounts maintained by lawyers.

HB 253 requires New Hampshire lawyers managing interest-bearing pooled trust accounts to remit quarterly interest or dividends to the New Hampshire public defender's office. The public defender must not have contributed to nonprofits or political campaigns during that quarter and must publish its full annual budget. If the public defender fails these requirements, the funds instead go to the state general fund. The law establishes this funding mechanism while allowing the Supreme Court and bar association to create implementing rules that align with these core provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates interest from lawyer trust accounts to public defender's office, funding essential legal services per fiscal management criteria.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds public defender's office for indigent defense, directly supporting fair representation and access to counsel in criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Courts

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 295: making school building aid program funds nonlapsing.

HB 295 makes funds allocated for New Hampshire's school building aid program nonlapsing, meaning unused money won't expire or return to the state treasury at year-end. This directly affects school districts and chartered public schools that receive these funds for building projects. The key provision changes the funding status under RSA 198:15-a, ensuring aid can carry over to future years if not spent in the current fiscal period. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, providing more stable long-term funding for school construction needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMakes school building aid funds nonlapsing, preventing unused money from expiring and returning to treasury. Ensures stable funding for school projects and promotes fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prevents expiration of school building aid funds, ensuring stable long-term funding for infrastructure projects and avoiding wasted resources.95% confidence

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 651: modifying the base cost and differential aid costs of an adequate education.

HB 651 increases the base cost of an adequate education per student from $4,100 to $7,356.01 and raises differential aid amounts for specific student groups: free or reduced-price meal eligible students by $1,733.28 (to $4,126.20), English language learners by $602.88 (to $1,435.20), and students with special education needs by $1,582.56 (to $3,767.40). The bill also expands the definition of an adequate education to include additional resource elements like teacher benefits, technology, and facility maintenance. This change, effective July 1, 2025, will require higher state funding for school districts, charter schools, and education freedom accounts, with an estimated $576 million increase for school districts in fiscal year 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases state education funding per student and differential aid for vulnerable groups, directly advancing public service budget allocation and fiscal support for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill increases base education cost per student and differential aid for specific groups, expanding adequate education definition to include teacher benefits, technology, and facilities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly expands 'adequate education' definition to include 'technology' as a required resource element, mandating funding for tech infrastructure in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Choice School Funding Student Health

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