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SB 419 · 2026 · Senate · Finance Committee

Housing champion program expansion

AI-generated

relative to the housing champion designation and program and the affordable housing fund, and making appropriations therefor.

Expands housing champion designation qualifications to include adoption of land use regulations promoting child care near jobs and makes appropriations to the housing champion grant program and affordable housing fund.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Expands the qualifications to receive a housing champion designation to include the adoption of land use regulations and ordinances that promote child care near jobs with the building of child care centers closer to commercial areas. II. Makes appropriations to the housing champion designation and grant program fund and the affordable housing fund.

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

“Not only does this mean severely limited options, less stock also means higher rent for what little units are available.”
Section 2
“Adoption of such land use regulations and ordinances that promote child care near jobs with the building of child care centers closer to commercial areas, which may include, but are not limited to, allowing the operation of a child care center by right on commercially zoned land as long as all requirements for such programs adopted in rules of the department of health and human services, He-C 4002, are met.”
Section 3
“The sum of $5,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, is hereby appropriated to the New Hampshire housing champion designation and grant program fund.”
Section 4
“The sum of $10,000,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, is hereby appropriated to the housing finance authority for deposit into the affordable housing fund, established by RSA 204-C:57, for the purpose of providing financing or state matching funds for affordable housing.”
Section 5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDPrimeMinority Leader
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. David PaigeDRanking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Alexis SimpsonDDemocratic Leader
  • Rep. Laurel StavisDRanking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDRanking Member· Finance Division 3

Also: Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Rep. Chris MunsD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–2
    Overall
    71% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateRoll callRefer to Interim StudyAdopted16–8How they voted
    Overall
    67% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    16–0100% yea
    Democrats
    0–80% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 20, 2026Public hearingSenate Finance51:14–58:147mlocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:58:39–5:05:557m 16slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, roll call 16-8

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Finance; SJ 1
  2. Jan 20, 2026SenHearing: 01/20/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:50 pm; SC 1
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 02/19/2026, Vote 5-2; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, RC 16Y-8N, MA; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.