Public policy in New Hampshire

* Fiscal policy
* Budgets
* Budget and finances by state
* Tax policy by state
* State Budget Terms
* State government tax collections by source
* Total state expenditures
* State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures
* State debt
* Finance
* Financial regulation in the United States
* Dodd-Frank Act
* Federal Reserve
* Pensions
* Pension policy by state
* Public pension health by state
* Pension reform in San Jose and San Diego
* Pension Terms and Definitions
* Public pensions
* Civil liberties
* Affirmative action
* Campaign finance
* Nonprofit regulation
* Education
* Public education by state
* School choice by state
* Charter schools by state
* Higher education by state
* Education policy in the United States
* Public education in the United States
* Education statistics
* Education statistics in the United States
* Education spending per pupil
* Number of schools by school type in the U.S.
* Demographic information for all students in the United States
* Public school system expenditures in the United States
* Public school system revenues in the United States
* Public school teacher salaries in the United States
* Graduation rates by groups in state
* Public high school dropout rates by state
* ACT and SAT scores in the United States
* NAEP scores by state
* Major terms
* Blended learning
* Charter schools
* Common Core
* Dropout rate
* Progressive education
* Regulatory Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate
* School vouchers
* Teacher merit pay
* United States education agencies
* Elections
* Voting policy
* Voter identification laws by state
* Online voter registration
* Early voting
* Ballot access
* Ballot access for presidential candidates
* Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
* List of political parties in the United States
* Political party designation
* Redistricting
* State-by-state redistricting procedures
* Majority-minority districts
* Energy and Environment
* Energy Policy by state
* Fracking
* Fracking information by state
* Fracking
* Fracking in the United States
* Energy policy in the United States
* Energy use in the United States
* Oil and gas on federal lands by state
* Energy terms and definitions
* Agencies and legislation
* Environmental Policy by state
* Endangered Species Policy
* Endangered species policy by state
* Environmental policy in the United States
* Environmental statistics
* Endangered species statistics
* Glossary of environmental terms
* Glossary of endangered species terms
* Healthcare
* Healthcare policy by state
* Medicaid spending by state
* Effect of the Affordable Care Act by state
* Healthcare policy in the United States
* Affordable Care Act
* Immigration
* Immigration in the United States
* Immigration by state
* Index

## Contents

* 1 Budget Policy
* 1.1 Budget and finances
* 1.2 Taxes
* 2 Civil Liberties Policy
* 2.1 Affirmative action
* 2.2 Campaign finance
* 3 Background
* 4 Contribution limits
* 4.1 State comparisons in the 2024 elections
* 5 Candidate reporting requirements
* 5.1 Organizational requirements
* 5.2 Reporting requirements
* 6 Campaign finance legislation
* 7 Election and campaign ballot measures
* 8 Contact information
* 8.1 Election agencies
* 9 Recent news
* 10 See also
* 11 Footnotes
* 11.1 Nonprofit regulation
* 12 Education Policy
* 12.1 K-12 Public education
* 12.2 Higher education
* 12.3 School choice
* 12.4 Charter schools
* 13 Election Policy
* 13.1 Ballot access requirements
* 13.2 Redistricting
* 13.3 Voting
* 14 Energy Policy
* 14.1 Energy information
* 14.2 Fracking
* 15 Environmental Policy
* 15.1 Environmental information
* 15.2 Endangered species
* 16 Finance Policy
* 16.1 Financial regulation information
* 17 Healthcare Policy
* 17.1 Healthcare information
* 17.2 Medicaid spending
* 17.3 Effect of the Affordable Care Act
* 18 Immigration Policy
* 18.1 Immigration information
* 19 Pension Policy
* 19.1 Public pensions
* 20 Public policy in other states
* 21 Footnotes

* * *

This article does not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

* * *

The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the New Hampshire public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.

For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.

## Budget Policy[edit]

### Budget and finances[edit]

In New Hampshire, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, total government spending in New Hampshire increased by approximately $335.0 million—from $5.5 billion in fiscal year 2015 to an estimated $5.8 billion in 2016. This represents a 6.1-percent increase.[1]

* In New Hampshire in fiscal year 2015, 37.2 percent of total tax revenues came from sales taxes and gross receipts. Income taxes accounted for 29.8 percent of total state tax collections.

* Education accounted for 23.1 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 29.7 percent went to Medicaid.

### Taxes[edit]

New Hampshire generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying select sales taxes (otherwise known as excise taxes) and a corporate income tax. The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article 5, Part Two of the state constitution.[2][3]

Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[4]

HIGHLIGHTS

* According to the United States Census Bureau, New Hampshire collected $2.64 billion in tax revenue in 2016. The state's tax revenue per capita was $1,979.

## Civil Liberties Policy[edit]

### Affirmative action[edit]

Affirmative action in New Hampshire refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in New Hampshire to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[5]

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.[6][7]

HIGHLIGHTS

* New Hampshire is one of eight states that have banned racial preferences in university admissions and public employment.

The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

### Campaign finance[edit]

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.

This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in New Hampshire, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in New Hampshirewith those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in New Hampshire.

The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[8]

As of July 2025:

* Individuals could contribute $15,000 per election cycle to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in New Hampshire.

* State parties could contribute unlimitedly to candidates for those offices.

* Political committees could contribute unlimitedly to candidates for those offices.

* Corporations and unions could contribute $15,000 per election cycle to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates.

## Background[edit]

Seal of the United States Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[9] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within 15 days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[10]

The Supreme Court of the United States has issued a number of rulings pertaining to federal election campaign finance regulations. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[11] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[12][13] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[14]

While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states enforce their own regulation and reporting requirements. Regulations vary by state, as do limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.

## Contribution limits[edit]

The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in New Hampshire as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.

New Hampshire contribution limits as of July 2025 | Individuals| Single candidates committees| PACs| Political party| Super PACs| Corporations| Unions

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Statewide Candidate (incl. Governor)| $15,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $15,000| $0
Senate| $15,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $15,000| $0
House| $15,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $15,000| $0
PAC| $30,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $15,000| $0
Party committees| $30,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $15,000| $0
Ballot measures| $30,000| unlimited| unlimited| unlimited| $0| $30,000| $0
Limits apply per election cycle.
Sources: New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Contribution Limits," accessed July 24, 2025

### State comparisons in the 2024 elections[edit]

See also: State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

Individual contribution limits

Party contribution limits

Political committee contribution limits

Corporation and union contribution limits

As of the 2024 elections, there were no individual contribution limits on contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 12 states. The remaining 38 states, including New Hampshire, had varying limits.

New Hampshire

Individual contribution limits in New Hampshire:

* Governor: $5,000 per election
* State Senate: $5,000 per election
* State House: $5,000 per election

Comparison to other states

In other states with individual contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $625 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $36,400 per election (California)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)
* State House
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)

As of the 2024 elections, there were no state party contribution limits on contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 21 states. The remaining 29 states, including New Hampshire, had varying limits.

New Hampshire

State party contribution limits in New Hampshire:

* Governor: $5,000 per election
* State Senate: $5,000 per election
* State House: $5,000 per election

Comparison to other states

In other states with party contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $1,950 per election (Maine)
* Maximum: $874,182.62 per election (Ohio)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $475 (Maine)
* Maximum: $174,371.53 (Ohio)
* State House
* Minimum: $475 (Maine)
* Maximum: $174,371.53 (Ohio)

As of the 2024 elections, there were no political committee contribution limits on contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 12 states. The remaining 38 states, including New Hampshire, had varying limits.

New Hampshire

Political committee contribution limits in New Hampshire:

* Governor: $5,000 per election
* State Senate: $5,000 per election
* State House: $5,000 per election

Comparison to other states

In other states with political committee contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $625 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $86,000[15] (Wisconsin)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $68,500 per election cycle (Illinois)
* State House
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $68,500 per election cycle (Illinois)

As of the 2024 elections, there were no corporation or union contribution limits on contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in five states. They were prohibited in 20 states. The remaining 25 states, including New Hampshire, had varying limits.

New Hampshire

Corporation/union contribution limits in New Hampshire:

* Governor: $5,000 per election/Prohibited
* State Senate: $5,000 per election/Prohibited
* State House: $5,000 per election/Prohibited

Comparison to other states

In the 25 states with corporation/union contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $1,200 per election cycle (Delaware)
* Maximum: $36,400 (California)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $600 per election (Delaware)
* Maximum: $28,800 per election cycle (Tennessee)
* State House
* Minimum: $500 per election (Kansas)
* Maximum: $14,400 per election cycle (Tennessee)

## Candidate reporting requirements[edit]

Seal of New Hampshire

See statutes: New Hampshire Revised Statutes, Chapter 664: Political Expenditures and Contributions

### Organizational requirements[edit]

Any individual who has publicly declared himself or herself a candidate and who seeks votes in an election is legally considered a candidate. At the time a candidate files for office, he or she must designate a person to act as his or her fiscal agent for the primary and/or general election campaign. A candidate may serve as his or her own fiscal agent. The fiscal agent, along with the candidate, must file all required financial disclosure statements.[16]

Any committee organized to support a candidate in any election must be authorized in writing by the candidate or his or her fiscal agent before accepting contributions or making expenditures. The committee must register with New Hampshire Secretary of State no later than 48 hours after first receiving any contribution in excess of $1,000 or before making any expenditure greater than $1,000. The committee must register no later than 14 days after the formation of the committee. The committee must designate a treasurer, who must be a legal resident of the state. A committee's registration is valid from the date of registration until 10 days after the primary or general election, whichever is appropriate (the committee may be terminated sooner than this, but such terminations must be made in writing by the chairman or treasurer of the committee).[17][18]

### Reporting requirements[edit]

Candidates and candidate committees whose receipts or expenditures exceed $1,000 are required to file a number of regular disclosure statements with the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Generally, each statement requires the following types of information:[19][20][17]

* Receipts
* This includes an itemized listing of each receipt exceeding $50, including the full name and home address of the contributor, the amount of the contribution, date of receipt, and the aggregate total for each election for each contributor of over $200.
* This includes an unitemized listing of all receipts of $50 or less.
* For any contributor whose aggregate contributions for each election exceed $200, the contributor's occupation, official job title, employer, and principal place of business must be included.
* Expenditures
* This includes itemized listing of each expenditure, including the name and city or town of the payee, the date paid, and the election for which the expenditure was made, including the specific nature and amount of each expenditure.

Reports may be filed electronically through the New Hampshire Campaign Finance System.[21]

The statutory reporting schedule for candidates and candidate committees is detailed in the table below (these reports are due for both the primary and general election cycle).[20]

Campaign finance reporting scheduleDue date| Reporting period

|

Wednesday 12 weeks prior to the election| Committee registration or candidate filing through Monday before the statement is due
Wednesday 3 weeks prior to the election| Cutoff date for the prior statement through Monday before the statement is due
Wednesday immediately prior to the election| Cutoff date for the prior statement through Monday before the statement is due

If a candidate or committee has any outstanding debt, obligation, or surplus following an election, it must continue to file reports every six months until the obligation is satisfied or the surplus is eliminated.

## Campaign finance legislation[edit]

The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to New Hampshire's current legislative session.[22]

## Election and campaign ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of New Hampshire ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked 11 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.

1. New Hampshire Modifications Related to Elections Amendment (1976)
2. New Hampshire 18 Year Old Voting Age Amendment (1974)
3. New Hampshire Remove Provision Disqualifying Women From Voting for State Offices, Question 1 (1958)
4. New Hampshire Legislative Representation, Question 5 (1930)
5. New Hampshire Legislative Representation, Question 4 (1920)
6. New Hampshire Voting Rights for the Convicted, Question 7 (1912)
7. New Hampshire Election by Plurality, Question 8 (1912)
8. New Hampshire Voters Required to Read and Write English, Question 1 (1903)
9. New Hampshire Right to Vote for Untaxed Amendment (1968)
10. New Hampshire Right to Vote Amendment (1968)
11. New Hampshire Right to Vote Amendment (1921)

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in New Hampshire can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

New Hampshire Town Clerks

Click here for a list

Secretary of State, Elections Division

State House, Room 204
107 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301

Phone: 603-271-3242

Fax: 603-271-6316

Email: elections@sos.nh.gov

Website: https://www.sos.nh.gov

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

1050 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20463

Telephone: (202)-694-1100

Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530

Email: info@fec.gov

Website: http://www.fec.gov/

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Hampshire campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Public policy in New Hampshire - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Campaign finance regulation
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New Hampshire
* New Hampshire

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
2. ↑ New Hampshire Government, "State Constitution," accessed October 17, 2014
3. ↑ Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Shares by Type 2000-2013," June 20, 2014
4. ↑ Brunori, D. (2011). State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
5. ↑ Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
6. ↑ Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
7. ↑ Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
8. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
9. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
10. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
11. ↑ New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
12. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
13. ↑ OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
14. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
15. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
16. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 664:12," accessed March 24, 2014
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2026 Receipts and Expenditures," accessed July 24, 2025
18. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 664:3," accessed March 24, 2014
19. ↑ New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 664:7," accessed March 24, 2014
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 New Hampshire Revised Statutes, "Title LXIII, Section 664:6," accessed March 24, 2014
21. ↑ New Hampshire Campaign Finance System, "Home page," accessed March 24, 2014
22. ↑ Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

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### Nonprofit regulation[edit]

Nonprofit regulation in New Hampshire involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

* contribution limits,
* donor disclosure, and
* the redefinition of issue advocacy.

New Hampshire is one of 39 states that require charitable organizations, and those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are a New Hampshire organization or based out-of-state. In New Hampshire a small number of groups and organizations are exempt from registration. Only certain religious organizations and some nonprofits whose purposes are not primarily charitable are exempt. These groups must apply for exemption; it is not automatic.[1]

New Hampshire is one of 32 states that allows registrants to use either the Unified Registration Statement (URS) or the state registration form.[2] Only seven states requiring registration do not accept the URS.

According to Guidestar, an organization that reports on nonprofit companies, regulation of nonprofit activity protects donors and organizations from potential fraud and helps "to maintain trust in the [nonprofit] sector." According to the London School of Economics, nonprofit disclosure requirements can create privacy concerns among potential donors, thereby having an unintended negative impact on donor participation.[3][4]

## Education Policy[edit]

Charter schools •  Higher education •  Public education •  School choice

### K-12 Public education[edit]

The New Hampshire public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, New Hampshire had 168,631 students enrolled in a total of  456 schools in 162 school districts. There were 14,009 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 12 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, New Hampshire spent on average $17,900 per pupil.[5] The state's graduation rate was 88 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[6]

### Higher education[edit]

New Hampshire's higher education system is composed of 28 colleges and universities. Of these, 13 are public institutions, 13 are nonprofit private schools, and two are for-profit private institutions.[7]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Average student debt held by college graduates in New Hampshire amounted to about $33,410, ranking second highest in the country.

* Students who graduated from public colleges in New Hampshire had more debt on average than those who graduated from private colleges: $35,044 compared to $28,293, respectively.

* At public four-year colleges in New Hampshire, 55.3 percent graduated within four years, while 70.1 percent graduated within six years. These figures were higher than in neighboring states and some of the highest graduation rates in the country.

### School choice[edit]

School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[8][9]

HIGHLIGHTS

* According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 26 total charter schools in New Hampshire in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 3,200 students.

* In New Hampshire, there were 26,700 students enrolled in 280 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 12.96 percent of the state's total school-age population.

* The New Hampshire Education Tax Credit Program provides tax credits to businesses that donate to nonprofits that provide scholarships to private schools. Only students whose household income is less than 300 percent of the federal poverty line are eligible to receive scholarships under this program.

Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

### Charter schools[edit]

Charter schools in New Hampshire are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

HIGHLIGHTS

* According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 26 total charter schools in New Hampshire in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 3,200 students.

* Overall, charter school students accounted for 1.76 percent of total public school enrollment in New Hampshire in 2015.

* The New Hampshire State Legislature approved the state's charter school law in 1995.

## Election Policy[edit]

### Ballot access requirements[edit]

In order to get on the ballot in New Hampshire, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in New Hampshire. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

### Redistricting[edit]

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of New Hampshire's two United States Representatives and 424 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[10][11][12][13]

New Hampshire was apportioned 2 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in New Hampshire after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, New Hampshire was apportioned two congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

* New Hampshire comprises 24 state Senate districts and 204 state House districts (some districts elect multiple representatives).

* In New Hampshire, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature.

### Voting[edit]

What's on your ballot?

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Election Information
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Early voting
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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in New Hampshire:

* Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
* In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
* Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
* Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
* Contact information for election agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

## Energy Policy[edit]

### Energy information[edit]

Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

### Fracking[edit]

Read about New Hampshire's state energy profile »

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, New Hampshire had no oil or natural gas reserves as of May 2017; thus, no fracking occurred in the state.[14]

## Environmental Policy[edit]

### Environmental information[edit]

Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in New Hampshire.

### Endangered species[edit]

Endangered species policy in New Hampshire involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

HIGHLIGHTS

* As of July 2016, New Hampshire was home to 10 species—six endangered species and four threatened species—listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

* Of these, seven were animal species and three were plant species.

## Finance Policy[edit]

### Financial regulation information[edit]

The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[15]

Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[16][17]

HIGHLIGHTS

* In 2015, there were a total of five distinct commercial banks in New Hampshire, with total deposits of $31.27 billion.

* The Banking Department regulates financial institutions in New Hampshire.

* In 2015, a total of 8,769 financial crimes were reported in New Hampshire according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), an agency of the United States Department of Treasury.

Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[18][19]

## Healthcare Policy[edit]

### Healthcare information[edit]

Healthcare policy in New Hampshire involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[20]

Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets.

Other issues in healthcare policy include

* state Medicaid expansion,
* health information technology and privacy,
* uninsured and underinsured portions of the population,
* a shortage of primary care physicians, and
* mental healthcare access and coverage.

### Medicaid spending[edit]

New Hampshire's Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

### Effect of the Affordable Care Act[edit]

The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. President Barack Obama (D) signed the ACA into law in 2010. The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain health insurance.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Between 2013 and 2016, the number of uninsured individuals in New Hampshire declined by 44.3%.

* About 48,000 individuals in New Hampshire were enrolled in health plans offered through the health insurance exchange in 2017. Enrollment in Medicaid amounted to about 189,000 in May 2017.

* The Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2016 and 2017, average monthly premiums for benchmark plans on New Hampshire's exchange increased by an average of 2% in the Manchester market, from $261 to $267.

## Immigration Policy[edit]

### Immigration information[edit]

Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.

HIGHLIGHTS

* As of October 2016, New Hampshire did not allow lawfully residing immigrants to enroll in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program; the state did not issue driver's licenses to individuals residing in the state without legal permission.

* In 2014, New Hampshire's population amounted to just over 1.3 million individuals. Native-born citizens comprised 94.4 percent of the population; 2.9 percent of residents were naturalized citizens and 2.6 percent were non-citizens.

* New Hampshire's poverty rate during 2014 was 5.7 percent. Among native-born citizens, 5.6 percent lived below the poverty line, compared to 12.8 percent of non-citizens.

## Pension Policy[edit]

### Public pensions[edit]

New Hampshire public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in New Hampshire receive retirement benefits.

There were five public pension systems in New Hampshire as of 2020. Of these, two were state-level programs while the remaining three were administered at the local level. Membership in New Hampshire's various pension systems totaled 107,222, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 49,821 were active members.[21]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Total contributions of $702.3 million were made to New Hampshire's state and local pension systems, in fiscal year 2020. Of this amount, $234.5 million came from employees.

* New Hampshire's state and local pension systems made payments totaling $848.9 million, in fiscal year 2020.

* New Hampshire's state and local pension systems held $9.3 billion in total cash and investment holdings, as of fiscal year 2020.

## Public policy in other states[edit]

Click your state  for an overview of policy information in your state.

Choose your state...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

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## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
2. ↑ "Multistate Filing Form," accessed December 17, 2014
3. ↑ Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
4. ↑ London School of Economics, "Campaign finance laws that make small donations public may lead to fewer people contributing and to smaller donations," January 7, 2015
5. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
6. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
7. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - New Hampshire," accessed July 12, 2016
8. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
9. ↑ Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
10. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
11. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
12. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
13. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `EIA`
15. ↑ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Government Performance and Results Act Annual Performance Report 2011," July 10, 2012
16. ↑ The National Bureau of Economic Research, "A Brief History of Regulations Regarding Financial Markets in the United States: 1789 to 2009," September 2011
17. ↑ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "The U.S. Federal Financial Regulatory System: Restructuring Federal Bank Regulation," January 19, 2006
18. ↑ Brookings, "The Origins of the Financial Crisis," November 24, 2008
19. ↑ The Cato Institute, "Did Deregulation Cause the Financial Crisis?" July 2009
20. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Health," accessed July 8, 2015
21. ↑ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Tables accessed February 23, 2022

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