New Hampshire Senate Bill SB645

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/25/25
• Refer: 11/25/25
• Report Pass: 2/19/26
• Report Pass: 3/18/26

Caption

Relative to income eligibility for the New Hampshire child care scholarship program and reallocating certain revenue to fund the program.

Impact

The bill introduces a financial mechanism to fund this expanded eligibility by reallocating certain state revenues. It mandates that 2% of revenues derived from tobacco taxes, liquor sales, and video lottery terminals be directed toward the child care scholarship program. This could potentially amount to over $10 million in funding, contingent upon the state generating surplus revenues from these sources. However, implementation of the new eligibility standards is conditioned on the availability of such funding, which adds an element of uncertainty regarding the guarantee of assistance to families.

Summary

Senate Bill 645 aims to amend income eligibility criteria for the New Hampshire child care scholarship program by setting the threshold at 95% of the state median income (SMI). The bill specifically targets families who fall within this income bracket, thereby increasing access to child care assistance. This is a shift from the previous threshold, which was 85% of the SMI, and is expected to extend eligibility to approximately 6,090 children who would benefit from the program.

Contention

Some points of contention surrounding SB 645 may arise regarding the sustainability of funding for the child care scholarships, particularly given the reliance on fluctuating state revenues from the identified sources. Critics may argue that linking social assistance programs to the volatility of tax revenues could lead to unpredictability in support for low-income families. Additionally, there may be debates about the adequacy of the revised funding amounts compared to the actual demand for child care support, raising concerns over whether the financial commitments are sufficient to meet the needs of all eligible families.