Committee Summary for Senate Finance (02/03/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
SB407 00:06:45.600 - 12:20:22 PM	Public Hearing	making an appropriation for each full-time student eligible for the in-state tuition rate enrolled in the university system of New Hampshire.	Gray, James(R)[B-]2025
SB602 00:30:39.916 - 12:44:16 PM	Public Hearing	relative to the withholding of state payments to the federal government in response to suspended federal aid.	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
SB604 00:42:11.040 - 12:55:48 PM	Public Hearing	making an appropriation to the university system of New Hampshire.	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
SB605 01:06:49.280 - 1:20:26 PM	Public Hearing	relative to special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.	Perkins Kwoka, Rebecca(D)[F]2025
SB297 01:59:15.360 - 2:12:52 PM	Public Hearing	relative to pooled risk management programs.	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025

SB407: Senator James Gray, District 6 (Rochester, Stratford, Alton, Gilmanton) Information Only00:06:45.600 - 12:20:22 PM; Senator Gray introduces SB 407, proposing an appropriation to reduce in-state tuition at UNH, USNH, and community colleges. He acknowledges it may not be feasible this year but aims to start discussions on sustainable funding. He suggests structuring appropriations for capital items, mandatory education, free tuition programs, and a per-student reduction to stabilize funding and encourage legislative support. He notes the university system's budget cuts from $97 million to $87 million and then $77 million, straining operations. He clarifies the bill lacks formal endorsement from the USNH Board of Trustees but has received positive informal feedback.
SB407: Senator Waters Support00:11:46.880 - 12:25:23 PM; Senator Waters thanks Senator Gray for introducing the bill, stating it sends a positive signal to families considering or attending UNH. He inquires about funding sources, suggesting the tax holiday program's extra funding.
SB407: Senator Gray (response) Information Only00:11:46.880 - 12:25:23 PM; Senator Gray responds that while the abatement program is performing well, other funds are not, and he doubts their availability. He notes discussions with DRRA indicate such programs may not recur soon. He expresses willingness to discuss funding in executive session and emphasizes the need for stable, dependable funding supported by both House and Senate.
SB407: Unidentified Senator (question on $300 figure) Information Only00:12:55.920 - 12:26:32 PM; The senator appreciates the sentiment but asks how Senator Gray arrived at the $300 figure for the appropriation.
SB407: Senator Gray (response) Information Only00:12:55.920 - 12:26:32 PM; Senator Gray humorously admits he picked the $300 figure 'out of a warm dark place.'
SB407: Senator Lang Information Only00:12:55.920 - 12:26:32 PM; Senator Lang questions why the bill does not address the community college system.
SB407: Senator Gray (response) Information Only00:12:55.920 - 12:26:32 PM; Senator Gray explains the House has a different view of community colleges. He has no expectations of funding this year and anticipates it may be deferred. The $300 would go directly to students and not help the university system currently. Community colleges face fewer issues per their chancellor, but equity may require similar treatment if one is addressed.
SB407: Senator Rosen Information Only00:14:01.519 - 12:27:38 PM; Senator Rosen asks if Senator Gray has considered renegotiating the fee agreement with Fidelity for the 529 plans, unchanged since launch, to generate funds for higher education.
SB407: Senator Gray (response) Information Only00:14:01.519 - 12:27:38 PM; Senator Gray suggests he and Senator Rosen, as senior members, meet with LBA to explore this, and LBA can involve others as needed.
SB407: Senator Rosen (response) Support00:14:01.519 - 12:27:38 PM; Senator Rosen agrees to meet with LBA on the Fidelity fee agreement.
SB407: Senator Pearl Information Only00:16:13.839 - 12:29:50 PM; Senator Pearl questions Senator Rosen about the $300 tuition reduction, confirming it benefits students directly but does not alleviate the university's $10 million shortfall. He notes the bill opens conversation on funding the university and community college systems to retain young talent in New Hampshire.
SB407: Katherine Provener, Chancellor, University System of New Hampshire Support00:18:02.880 - 12:31:39 PM; Katherine Provener appreciates the bill's sponsorship and emphasizes partnering to attract and retain talent amid New Hampshire's aging workforce. She explains state support reduces in-state tuition, funds mandated programs like cooperative extension, and covers tuition waivers. She highlights the drop to $77 million in state support in FY27, enrollment declines, cost-cutting measures, and impacts on students and employers. She stresses the need for partnership between employers, higher education, and government to bolster the economy, with additional support signaling value in the university system. During questioning, she discusses consolidating programs in key areas like business, healthcare, biotech, and engineering to meet workforce needs, partnerships with employers for curriculum development, and the importance of general education skills like communication for adaptability. She notes the tight price elasticity of demand, inability to raise tuition significantly without losing enrollment, and that $300 sends a message of working on solutions. She agrees to investigate if incoming freshmen lack skills and provides tuition details: $15,900 full-time sticker price, with most students receiving aid, equating to about $1,300 per credit.
SB602: Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, District 21 (Portsmouth and surrounding towns) Support00:30:39.916 - 12:44:16 PM; Senator Perkins Kwoka introduces the bill to protect New Hampshire's budget from federal funding uncertainties, which constitute about a third of the state budget supporting education, daycare, farms, small businesses, and universities. She notes similar measures in other states to ensure predictability and protect state functions in case of federal aid suspension.
SB604: Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, District 21 (Durham) Support00:42:11.040 - 12:55:48 PM; Senator Perkins Kwoka introduces the bill to restore $14 million and $3.5 million cut from USNH and community college systems, respectively, totaling $35 million in recent cuts. She highlights rising in-state tuition impacts on students, especially in the North Country for trades and healthcare, and the investment's benefits for workforce development and economic growth for small businesses.
SB604: Katherine Provener, Chancellor, University System of New Hampshire Support00:45:11.599 - 12:58:48 PM; Katherine Provener supports the bill, thanking sponsors and reiterating its role in workforce pipeline amid fierce New England competition. She notes surrounding states offering incentives like in-state tuition to attract students, including from New Hampshire. Restoring funds could enable tuition freezes, reduce uncertainty, and keep students in-state, focusing on majors aligned with future needs.
SB605: Senator Rebecca Perkins Qua, District 21 Support01:06:49.280 - 1:20:26 PM; Senator Perkins Qua introduced SB 605, explaining it allows political subdivisions to pay special assessments from pooled risk management programs in installments over 36 months from the invoice date. She highlighted the impact of last year's late-filed bill on risk pools, particularly in Portsmouth, a large member of Health Trust, where a $4 million assessment would strain budgets. The bill aims to provide municipalities time to budget for unexpected costs, protecting property taxpayers. She noted discussions with the Secretary of State and emphasized the need for safeguards while ideally avoiding assessments through better predictability.
SB605: Scott D. Roach, Executive Director, Health Trust (with Jean Herrick, General Counsel) Support01:18:02.159 - 1:31:39 PM; Representing Health Trust, a non-assessable risk pool, they supported SB 605 for acknowledging both assessable and non-assessable models, consistent with national standards. They stressed the importance of adequate reserves (national average 34-38%, Health Trust targets 20%) to avoid assessments, citing their experience of maintaining solvency during claim spikes without assessments by using reserves and rebuilding over time. They explained the need for a 4-5 year solvency projection if payments are stretched to 36 months. Health Trust has operated for 40 years without assessments, providing better coverage and costs than commercial markets, and emphasized transparency and proper underwriting to ensure stability for public sector entities.
SB605: Kirk Batti, City Manager, City of Laconia Support01:47:52.960 - 2:01:29 PM; Speaking in favor of SB 605, Kirk Batti described Laconia's experience with over $1 million in assessments from NHIT for the city and school, due upon receipt with threats to halt bill processing if unpaid. This coincided with significant insurance increases, straining budgets in a tax cap community. The school depleted reserves to pay $800,000. He supported spreading payments over time to provide budgeting flexibility for unexpected assessments, noting Laconia uses multiple risk pools including Health Trust and SchoolCare, with representatives on their boards.
SB605: Margaret Burns, Executive Director, New Hampshire Municipal Association Support01:50:59.600 - 2:04:36 PM; The NHMA supported SB 605 for recognizing both risk pool models (assessable and non-assessable) in bylaws or agreements, allowing choices for political subdivisions and aligning with national standards from AGIP. It increases clarity on accessibility, reducing confusion over assessments as seen last year. NHMA is neutral on the 36-month repayment period but views installment options as critical for members facing large, unexpected assessments competing with other budget needs. She provided a letter from mayors in support and noted NHMA's membership in Health Trust without board seats.
SB605: Lisa Duket, Executive Director, SchoolCare Oppose01:54:00.560 - 2:07:37 PM; SchoolCare, an assessable pool, opposed aspects of SB 605, concerned it could weaken protections by allowing 36-month assessment payments, as claims must be paid immediately to maintain solvency. They issued a $30 million assessment in 2023 due to a 30%+ increase in high-cost claims (> $75,000), specialty drugs, and a reserve drop from $30 million to a $4.7 million deficit by mid-2025. Despite challenges, members paid quickly (due by January 1, 2026, with extensions to next fiscal year interest-free), restoring solvency to 12.9% reserves by December 2025. Extending payments could have led to closure, eliminating an option for 100 public entities covering 25,000 individuals. They agreed with the bill's intent but highlighted risks from unpredictable healthcare costs.
SB297: Lisa Duket, Executive Director, SchoolCare Support01:59:15.360 - 2:12:52 PM; Lisa Duket continues her testimony, explaining that individual employees could get stuck with non-negotiated healthcare rates. She notes that Senate Bill 297 includes guard rails and triggers such as notifications, which SchoolCare supported as amended by the Senate. SchoolCare has implemented protocols for earlier communication and regular reporting to avoid surprise announcements. Regarding rebuilding reserves, she describes how SchoolCare's reserves dropped from 12-14% to -2%, requiring immediate assessment. She supports the bill's mechanisms: rebuilding through rates if below 12%, and an assessment invoice if below 4%.

Gray, James(Chairman)(R)[B-]2025	Innis, Daniel(V Chairman)(R)[B]2025	Carson, Sharon(R)[B]2025
Watters, David(D)[D-]2025	Birdsell, Regina(R)[B-]2025	Lang, Timothy(R)[B-]2025
Rosenwald, Cindy(D)[F]2025	Pearl, Howard (R)[B]2025