Public policy in New Hampshire

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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]

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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]

    Civil Liberties Policy Logo.png

    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]

    New Hampshire campaign finance requirements govern the following:

    • how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations,
    • how much and how often 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.

    As of May 2015, individuals and corporations could donate no more than $1,000 to candidates for office and could make unlimited contributions to ballot measure campaigns. Unions could not directly contribute to candidates for office but could make unlimited contributions to ballot measure campaigns.

    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.[8]

    New Hampshire is one of 32 states that allows registrants to use either the Unified Registration Statement (URS) or the state registration form.[9] 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.[10][11]

    Education Policy[edit]

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    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.[12] The state's graduation rate was 88 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[13]

    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.[14]

    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).[15][16]

    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]

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    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.[17][18][19][20]

    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]

    Energy Policy[edit]

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    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]

    Environmental Policy[edit]

    Environmental Policy Logo.png

    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.

    Environmental governance in New Hampshire[edit]

    The New Hampshire legislature has two House standing committees related to environmental policy and natural resources: The Resources, Recreation and Development committee manages bills on natural resources, water pollution, and parks and recreation while the Environment and Agriculture committee manages bill related agriculture as well as pollution issues like air, water and waste pollution. The Senate has a standing committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The committees manage bills relating to energy development and policy as well as the state's protected resources.

    Environmental budget[edit]

    See also: Environmental spending in the 50 states

    The table below features annual budget information for the New Hampshire Environmental Services Department from 2011 to 2023:

    Environmental and natural resources budget in New Hampshire, 2011-2023
    Fiscal year Total spending
    2023 $251,972,489
    2022 $169,694,285
    2021 $240,029,103
    2020 $208,247,823
    2019 $229,850,354
    2018 $173,845,957
    2017 $211,397,122
    2016 $139,909,551
    2015 $188,294,502
    2014 $124,447,820
    2013 $198,217,387
    2012 $118,652,082
    2011 $225,939,534
    Source: Department of Administrative Services

    Air[edit]

    Clean Air Act[edit]

    See also: Implementation of the Clean Air Act

    The Clean Air Act is a federal law aimed at maintaining air quality and reducing air pollution. The law requires states and private industries to meet national air pollution standards. Each state must implement an EPA-approved plan to reduce air pollutants from industrial facilities such as chemical plants and utilities. Over 47,000 facilities nationwide were regulated under the Clean Air Act as of February 2023.[21][22][23][24]

    The table below features information about the number of regulated facilities under the Clean Air Act in New Hampshire from 2014 to 2023:

    Regulated facilities under the Clean Air Act in New Hampshire, 2014-2023
    Year Number of EPA-regulated facilities Number of state-regulated facilities Number of local-regulated facilities Total regulated facilities
    2023 0 209 0 209
    2022 0 217 0 217
    2021 0 244 0 244
    2020 0 230 0 230
    2019 0 263 0 263
    2018 6 245 0 251
    2017 0 244 0 244
    2016 0 261 0 261
    2015 0 235 0 235
    2014 0 319 0 319
    Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "EPA/State Air Dashboard"

    Mercury and air toxics standards[edit]

    See also: Mercury and air toxics standards

    Citing its authority under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 issued a rule (commonly known as the MATS rule) limiting the amount of mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted by power plants. Mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) target mercury and other hazardous pollutants from over 580 coal and oil-fired power plants nationwide. The MATS rule was issued by the Obama administration as part of its larger policy limiting emissions from coal-fired power plants.[25]

    The EPA later reconsidered the MATS rule and, in 2020, determined "that it is not 'appropriate and necessary' to regulate electric utility steam generating units under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA)."[26]

    A 2021 proposed rulemaking from the EPA seeks to revoke the 2020 action and reinstate the MATS rule.[27]

    During the period that the MATS rule was in effect, New Hampshire had three power plants subject to the mercury standards.[28]

    Ozone standards[edit]

    See also: Ground-level ozone standards

    Federal ozone standards establish the acceptable amount of ground level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when nitrogen oxide combines with other organic chemicals in the atmosphere. Automobiles, power plants, factories and manufacturing centers emit the nitrogen oxide necessary for ozone formation. In high concentrations, ozone is harmful to human health.[29][30]

    EPA in 2015 lowered the acceptable amount of ground-level ozone (smog) in the air. The standards will go into effect in 2025. States would have between the years 2020 and 2037 to create and establish a plan to meet the standards, depending how much ozone forms in certain areas of a state.[31][32]

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    Clean Power Plan[edit]

    See also: Clean Power Plan and climate change

    The EPA in 2015 finalized a regulatory action known as the Clean Power Plan aimed at mitigating what the agency views as potentially human-caused climate change. The plan aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants (fossil fuel-fired) and natural gas-fired power plants by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Each state would have to meet goals based on the number of fossil fuel- and natural gas-fired plants in the state.[33][34][35]

    After several states challenged the plan in court, arguing in part that the plan exceeded the EPA's statutory authority, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit delayed the rule's implementation in June 2016. The Trump administration later moved to replace the Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy rule. The D.C. Circuit vacated the Trump-era rule in January 2021, "giving the incoming Biden administration a clean slate for" drafting a new rule, according to Bloomberg.[36][37]

    Carbon dioxide emissions[edit]

    The following table provides information about annual carbon dioxide emissions in New Hampshire from 2010 to 2020:[38]

    Carbon dioxide emissions in New Hampshire, 2010-2020 (in million metric tons of energy-related carbon dioxide)
    Year Total carbon dioxide emissions
    2020 12.4
    2019 13.9
    2018 14.2
    2017 13.5
    2016 13.8
    2015 15.3
    2014 15.2
    2013 14.4
    2012 14.7
    2011 16.4
    2010 16.8
    Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

    Land[edit]

    Federal land policy[edit]

    See also: Federal land policy

    Federal land policy involves the conservation and management of natural resources on land owned by the federal government. Most federal land policies focus on conservation, recreation, oil and natural gas extraction, wildlife and forest management, and grazing.

    The federal government as of 2018 owned around 640 million total acres of land (about 28 percent) of the 2.27 billion acres of land in the United States. Four federal agencies (the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Park Service (NPS), the Forest Service (FS) oversee public lands for conservation, recreation, wildlife protection, grazing, energy production, and other purposes. The Department of Defense also oversees federal lands used for military, training, and related purposes. The majority of federal land is located in Alaska and 11 coterminous Western states[39]

    Federal land ownership[edit]

    See also: Federal land ownership by state

    The table below features information about changes in federal land ownership in New Hampshire from 1990 to 2018:[39]

    Change in federal land ownership in New Hampshire, 1990-2018
    Year Total federal land (in acres) Percentage of state land owned by the federal government
    2018 805,472 14.0%
    2010 777,807 13.5%
    2000 754,858 13.1%
    1990 734,163 12.7%
    Source: Congressional Research Service

    Federal land management by agency[edit]

    The following table features information about federal land management in New Hampshire by federal agency in 2018:[39]

    Federal agency land management in New Hampshire, 2018
    Agency Total federal land in state managed by agency (in acres) Percentage of total federal land in state
    Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 0 0.0 %
    Forest Service (FS) 753,921 93.6%
    Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 34,716 4.3%
    National Park Service (NPS) 13,696 1.7%
    Department of Defense (DoD) 3,139 0.4%
    Source: Congressional Research Service

    National parks[edit]

    The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) as of February 2023 oversaw what the agency describes as 424 units (often referred to as parks) and more than 150 related areas within the National Park System. The agency assists in managing national historic areas, wild and scenic rivers, historic landmarks, and national trails. The National Park System contained more than 85 million acres as of February 2023, including national parks, historical parks and sites, national monuments, battlefields and military parks, recreation areas, seashores, and parkways. More than 297 million visitors attended sites in the National Park System in 2021. NPS employed around 20,000 permanent, temporary, and seasonal employees as of February 2023.[40][41][42]

    NPS operated two national parks in New Hampshire as of February 2023.[43]

    The following table features visitation statistics for national parks in New Hampshire from 2017 to 2021.[44]

    National Park Service visitation in New Hampshire, 2017-2021
    Year Total recreation visits
    2021 26,058
    2020 13,286
    2019 31,759
    2018 35,218
    2017 37,556
    Source: U.S. National Park Service

    Payments in lieu of taxes[edit]

    See also: Payments in lieu of taxes

    The U.S. Department of the Interior pays local governments each year to offset what they lose in property taxes due to non-taxable federal land within their borders, commonly known as payments in lieu of taxes (PILT). PILT payments go toward fire and police departments, public schools, road construction, and other local services. PILT amounts are based on population and the amount of federal land in a county. From 1977 (when PILT payments began) to 2022, the Interior Department paid out around $10.8 billion to states, territories, and Washington, D.C. PILT payments can be used for any governmental purpose.[45][46]

    The following table features information about payments in lieu of taxes received by local governments in New Hampshire from 2017 to 2021.[47]

    Total payments in lieu of taxes, New Hampshire, 2017-2021
    Year Total payments in lieu of taxes
    2022 $2,177,262
    2021 $2,125,916
    2020 $2,095,636
    2019 $2,049,423
    2018 $2,036,937
    Source: U.S. National Park Service

    Oil and natural gas activity[edit]

    See also: Oil and natural gas extraction on federal land and BLM oil and gas leases by state

    The federal government leases its land to private individuals and companies for energy development, including drilling for crude oil and natural gas, solar energy, and geothermal energy. Oil and natural gas drilling on federal lands in the United States is primarily overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Private oil and natural gas companies apply for leases from the BLM to produce energy on federal land. About 26 million acres of federal land—12.8 million of which produced oil and gas in economic quantities—were leased to about 24,000 oil and gas developers operating 96,000 wells at the end of fiscal year 2018.[48]

    New Hampshire had no oil and natural gas activity on federal land within the state from 2017 to 2021.[49][50]

    Water[edit]

    Clean Water Act[edit]

    See also: Implementation of the Clean Water Act

    The Clean Water Act is a federal law regulating pollutants discharged into all waters of the United States, including lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The federal government approves water quality and technology standards for major sources of water pollution, such as chemical plants, steel manufacturers, municipal facilities, and others. Each state must establish water quality standards for all bodies of water within its boundaries.[51]

    Under the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to discharge any pollutant from any source into navigable waters without a federal permit. The permit specifies what limitations or conditions apply to a facility before the facility may discharge any pollutants. Federal permits may contain facility-specific requirements and limitations depending on the water source.[52]

    The following table provides information about the number of New Hampshire facilities subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act from 2014 to 2023:[53]

    Clean Water Act permits, New Hampshire, 2014-2023
    Year Number of facilities
    2023 2,111
    2022 2,352
    2021 2,108
    2020 1,839
    2019 1,657
    2018 1,370
    2017 1,017
    2016 531
    2015 278
    2014 209
    Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Water Activity Dashboard"

    Waste[edit]

    Superfund sites and hazardous waste facilities[edit]

    See also: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act

    Superfund is a federal program that addresses contaminated waste sites and their return to practical use. Superfund sites include oil refineries, smelting facilities, mines and other industrial areas. The federal government can compel the private entities responsible for a waste site to clean the site or face penalties. If the federal government cleans a waste site, it can compel the responsible company to reimburse the government for cleanup costs. Because Superfund sites are added and removed from a prioritized list on a regular basis, the total number of Superfund sites since the program's inception in 1980 is unknown.[54][55][56]

    The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act covers hazardous wastes, including their generation, treatment, storage and disposal. States may regulate hazardous wastes rather than the federal government. The EPA is responsible for all hazardous waste requirements if no state program exists. Hazardous waste regulations cover waste generators, transporters, treatment centers, storage and disposal facilities.[57]

    New Hampshire had 20 Superfund sites and 2,530 regulated hazardous waste facilities as of February 2023.[58][59]

    Endangered species[edit]

    Endangered Species Act[edit]

    See also: Endangered species in New Hampshire

    The Endangered Species Act is a federal law that mandates the listing and conservation of endangered and threatened species. The legislation aims to prevent the extinction of vulnerable species throughout the United States and to recover a species' population to the point where listing the species as endangered or threatened is no longer necessary. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the law's implementation.[30][60]

    New Hampshire had 12 federally listed endangered or threatened plant or animal species as of February 2023. To view the full list, click here.[61]

    Environmental ballot measures in New Hampshire[edit]

    The following list features historical information about ballot measures relating to environmental issues in New Hampshire.

    Natural resources[edit]

    Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to natural resources in New Hampshire

    Environment[edit]

    Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to the environment in New Hampshire

    Water[edit]

    Ballotpedia staff have tracked no ballot measures relating to water in New Hampshire

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    Recent environmental legislation in New Hampshire[edit]

    The following list features information about environmental bills that have been introduced in or passed by the New Hampshire General Court in the last five years. To learn more about these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    See also[edit]

    External links[edit]

    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. Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
    9. "Multistate Filing Form," accessed December 17, 2014
    10. Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
    11. 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
    12. United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
    13. National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
    14. National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - New Hampshire," accessed July 12, 2016
    15. National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
    16. Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
    17. All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
    18. Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
    19. The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
    20. Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
    21. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Air Act Requirements and History," accessed August 7, 2014
    22. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Understanding the Clean Air Act," accessed August 7, 2014
    23. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "History of the Clean Air Act," accessed August 7, 2014
    24. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Analyze Trends: EPA/State Air Dashboard," accessed February 9, 2023
    25. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Basic Information on Mercury and Air Toxics Standards," accessed January 5, 2015
    26. EPA, "Final Revised Supplemental Finding and Results of the Residual Risk and Technology Review," accessed February 2, 2023
    27. EPA, "Proposed Revocation of the 2020 Reconsideration and Affirmation of the Appropriate and Necessary Supplemental Finding," accessed February 2, 2023
    28. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Power Plants Likely Covered by the Toxics Rule," accessed January 19, 2016
    29. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ground Level Ozone: Regulatory Actions," accessed February 2, 2016
    30. 30.0 30.1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Overview of EPA's Proposal to Update the Air Quality Standards for Ground-Level Ozone," November 25, 2014 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "overview" defined multiple times with different content
    31. Washington Examiner, "EPA tries to appease green groups mad about ozone rules," October 1, 2015
    32. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Ground Level Ozone by the numbers," accessed February 2, 2016
    33. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Overview of the Clean Power Plan," accessed November 3, 2015
    34. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Power Plan Toolbox for States," accessed November 3, 2015
    35. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Clean Power Plan - Rule Summary," August 3, 2015
    36. The Hill, "Supreme Court climate fight shakes up Senate races," February 10, 2016
    37. Bloomberg, "EPA’s Industry-Friendly Climate Rule Struck Down by Court (3)," January 19, 2021
    38. U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Energy-Related CO2 Emission Data Tables," accessed February 3, 2023
    39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 Congressional Research Service, "Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data," December 29, 2014
    40. U.S. National Park Service, "About Us," accessed February 7, 2023
    41. National Park Service, "Visitation Numbers," accessed February 7, 2023
    42. National Park Service, "Organizational Structure of the National Park Service," accessed February 7, 2023
    43. National Park Service, "New Hampshire," accessed February 7, 2023
    44. U.S. National Park Service, "Visitation By State and By Park (2017 - Last Calendar Year)," accessed February 7, 2023
    45. U.S. Department of the Interior, "Payment in Lieu of Taxes," accessed February 1, 2023
    46. U.S. Department of the Interior, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed February 8, 2016
    47. U.S. National Park Service, "Payment in Lieu of Taxes," accessed February 7, 2023
    48. Bureau of Land Management, "About the BLM Oil and Gas Program," accessed February 7, 2023
    49. U.S. Department of the Interior, "Natural Resources Revenue Data," accessed February 7, 2023
    50. Bureau of Land Management, "Oil and Gas Statistics," accessed February 7, 2023
    51. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Summary of the Clean Water Act,” accessed January 29, 2014
    52. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "NPDES Home," accessed September 23, 2014
    53. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Analyze Trends: EPA/State Wastewater Dashboard," accessed February 9, 2023
    54. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Superfund Glossary, S," accessed December 1, 2014
    55. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Superfund Glossary, N," accessed November 25, 2014
    56. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Introduction to the Hazard Ranking System (HRS)," accessed February 17, 2015
    57. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)," accessed August 11, 2014
    58. Environmental Protection Agency, "National Priorities List (NPL) Sites - by State," accessed February 9, 2023
    59. Environmental Protection Agency, "Analyze Trends: EPA/State Hazardous Waste Dashboard," accessed February 9, 2023
    60. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "ESA Overview," accessed October 1, 2014
    61. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Listed species believed to or known to occur in each State," accessed February 9, 2023

    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]

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    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.[1]

    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.[2][3]

    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.[4][5]

    Healthcare Policy[edit]

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    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.[6]

    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

    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]

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    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]

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    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.[7]

    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.
    http://ballotpedia.org/Public policy in STATE


    Footnotes[edit]


    Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/Public_policy_in_New_Hampshire
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