SB 204 requires New Hampshire school districts to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students from households earning at or below 200% of the federal poverty level during school hours. It reimburses schools at 50% of the difference between federal free meal rates and paid/reduced rates, with local districts covering the remaining 50%. The bill appropriates $500,000 to help districts implement online applications for meal eligibility and covers administrative costs for the Department of Education. This directly affects public school districts and low-income students, expanding meal access while establishing a new online application process for qualifying families.
HB 773 modifies how New Hampshire distributes special education aid to school districts by removing the requirement to prorate funds when state appropriations are insufficient. Instead, the bill mandates that school districts receive at least 85% of their entitlement for catastrophic special education costs each fiscal year. This change affects all New Hampshire school districts that receive special education aid under RSA 186-C:18. The bill does not provide new funding but would increase the amount of aid districts receive when costs exceed certain thresholds, though the exact financial impact depends on annual claims.
HB 572 establishes the "Partners in Housing" program, a low-interest loan and grant program under the Housing Champions Fund to help municipalities, counties, and developers build workforce housing. The program prioritizes single-family starter homes, duplexes, small apartment buildings, and "missing middle housing" on municipally-owned land suitable for residential development, with $2 million of the $10 million total funding specifically allocated for this initiative. Municipalities can identify suitable public land for housing development, which would be added to a statewide list prioritized for program funding, and projects must include at least 20% affordable units for 20 years. The program also includes expedited review processes for qualifying projects to speed up development. The bill appropriates $10 million for the Housing Champions Fund, with $500,000 designated for program administration.
HB 624 creates a grant program to provide funding to existing local river management advisory committees in New Hampshire. These committees, established under state law, can apply for grants of up to $10,000 annually to support their work managing local river resources. The bill appropriates $40,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $40,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the General Fund, to be administered by the Department of Environmental Services. The program requires the department to develop application rules but does not include funding for administrative costs.
This bill establishes a new system for funding New Hampshire public schools that calculates each district's "foundation opportunity budget" based on student needs rather than property values. The budget accounts for factors like students eligible for free/reduced lunch (multiplied by 1.49), English language learners (multiplied by 2.20), and students with special needs (multiplied by 4.29). The state will provide "foundation opportunity grants" to cover the difference between the calculated budget and what local governments are required to contribute, with a gradual transition period from the current system over several years. The bill requires school districts to report detailed performance data to help target resources and address achievement gaps for different student groups.
HB 619 allocates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to New Hampshire's Solid Waste Management Fund for the 2025-2027 biennium. This non-lapsing appropriation means the funds remain available until spent, with 50% specifically designated to prioritize projects reducing food waste and other organic waste diversion through June 2028. The bill directly affects state waste management programs and local projects focused on organic waste reduction. It does not change existing laws or create new requirements, solely providing funding for established waste management efforts. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
The bill authorizes video lottery terminals (VLTs) at charity gaming facilities and repeals historic horse racing licensing. It requires existing licensed operators to run VLTs, with 30% of revenue distributed to charities (35%), problem gaming services (0.25%), retirement system (4.75%), and the lottery commission. The bill also mandates responsible gaming plans and establishes procedures for handling unclaimed tickets. It will take effect January 1, 2028, replacing historic horse racing with VLTs at charity gaming facilities.
SB 638 establishes a small business tariff stabilization fund to provide financial assistance to New Hampshire small businesses affected by reduced revenue from tariffs and trade disruptions. The fund, initially funded with $2.5 million from the General Fund, will distribute grants to support businesses facing supply chain issues or increased costs due to tariffs, specifically targeting those committed to avoiding layoffs. It directly benefits small businesses (defined per U.S. Small Business Administration standards) operating primarily in New Hampshire that have experienced revenue declines linked to lower exports to Canada and tourism impacts. The fund is separate from other state funds, non-lapsing, and will be managed by the Department of Business and Economic Affairs starting January 1, 2027.
HB 1677 requires towns and cities with a local tax cap to get a recommendation from their budget committee or governing body before including any budget items that raise taxes in their annual tax estimate. This applies specifically to "warrant articles" (budget items) with a tax impact, ensuring they are formally endorsed before being counted toward the tax cap limit. The bill amends RSA 32:5-b to mandate this recommendation step, certification, and posting on the warrant, without changing the tax cap amount itself.
SB 604 appropriates $14 million to New Hampshire's University System for fiscal year 2027 to restore funding reduced in 2025, and $3.5 million to the Community College System to maintain a freeze on credit-hour tuition rates. The bill directly affects public universities and community colleges in the state, providing concrete funding for operations and tuition stability. It authorizes the governor to draw these funds from the General Fund, effective July 1, 2026, with no additional revenue impact.
