HB 659 · 2025 · House · Education Funding Committee
College graduate retention incentive program
AI-generatedestablishing the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive program.
Establishes the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive program to retain in-state higher education graduates and incentivize businesses to hire them.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 6, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill establishes the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive program with the purpose of retaining graduates from New Hampshire higher education institutions and incentivizing businesses to hire local graduates.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site
“"Graduate" means an individual who has earned a degree or certificate from a New Hampshire college, university, or technical school.”
“The state shall provide up to $5,000 annually in student loan forgiveness to eligible graduates who:”
“Graduates who live and work in New Hampshire shall be eligible for a $1,000 annual cash rebate for up to 5 years.”
“Participating businesses shall receive a $500 rebate per hired New Hampshire graduate, applied to the business enterprise tax (BET).”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Public testimony
22 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony
64% support36% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“Although the NH Timberland Owners Association recognize state funding is tight this budget cycle, we support efforts to grow New Hampshire's workforce.…”
“I am currently a freshman at UNH in the Hamel Scholars program. I would not have stayed in New Hampshire for school had I not received my Hamel scholarship.…”
“No payment schemes or debt forgiveness to bait college graduates. If that is only carrot, they will leave anyhow later after 3 years. It is a failed strategy. No to baiting employers either; If graduate-hire does not already appeal to them, they will bail when payment is done.…”
“I totally oppose this Bill. Who proposes something like this? This i s pure Communism. This is not the role of the State in any way shape or form. Businesses can do what they need to do to retain talent.…”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 6, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding2:08–3:491m 41slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Feb 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Education Funding22:44–24:181m 34slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Mar 6, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3 P. 21
- Feb 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/07/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
- Feb 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2025 10:30 am LOB 205-207
- Feb 18, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 14 P. 4
- Mar 6, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/06/2025 HJ 7 P. 4
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.