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SB 488 · 2026 · Senate · Finance Committee

Governor's emergency power over budget impasse

AI-generated

enabling the governor to declare a state of emergency due to the failure of the legislature to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund the New Hampshire state government by July 1 of the first year of a biennium.

Authorizes the governor to declare a state of emergency if the legislature fails to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund state government by July 1 of the first year of a biennium.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 14, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill enables the governor to declare a state of emergency due to the failure of the legislature to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund the New Hampshire state government by July 1 of the first year of a biennium.

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

“Notwithstanding RSA 4:45, the governor may declare a state of emergency due to the failure of the legislature to pass a budget or a continuing resolution to fund the New Hampshire state government or due to a veto of such budget by July 1st of each new fiscal year.”
RSA 4:45-a
“A state of emergency declared under this section shall expire 60 days after it is declared.”
RSA 4:45-a
“A state of emergency declared under this section may be renewed for an additional 60 days up to 3 times by a majority vote in each house.”
RSA 4:45-a
“Upon any declaration of a state of emergency under paragraph I, the following shall be fully funded for the duration of the emergency at the level in which they were funded in the prior fiscal year:”
RSA 4:45-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Sharon CarsonRPrimePresident of the Senate

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

56% support44% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This is a common sense bill that would ensure the state government continues to function.”
— Russell Hodgkins, Amherstsupports

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–2
    Overall
    71% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingSenate Finance22:57–25:522m 55slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:15:50–5:21:245m 34slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:01:38–1:05:113m 33slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Apr 29, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and AdministrationWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full stream==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration52:04–58:436m 39slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:08:40–5:09:481m 8slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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 27, 2026SenHearing: 01/27/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:35 pm; SC 3
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026, Vote 5-2; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 5 P. 124
  6. Apr 1, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/01/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  7. Apr 8, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  8. Apr 29, 2026House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  9. May 6, 2026House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 05/06/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  10. May 6, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 05/06/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 19 P. 23
  11. May 14, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 77

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Understanding the New Hampshire state budgetExplainer — NH

    NH Fiscal Policy Institute — How HB 1 and HB 2 work, and what happens if the biennium starts without them.AI-generated

  • Budget processes in the statesComparative

    National Association of State Budget Officers — How other states handle a budget impasse, including which allow continuing appropriations.AI-generated

  • New Hampshire Legislative Budget AssistantFiscal notes and budget analyses

    NH General Court — The nonpartisan office whose fiscal notes score every bill, including the cost of running the state without a budget.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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