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HB 1649 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Ban on taxpayer-funded nonprofit donations

AI-generated

prohibiting certain tax dollars from being donated to non-profit organizations.

Prohibits towns, cities, village districts, and unincorporated places from appropriating or spending taxpayer funds to donate to non-profit organizations, while allowing grants awarded through a competitive bidding process and contracts for goods and services.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 19, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill prohibits towns, cities, and villages from donating tax dollars to certain non-profit organizations.

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

“No city, town, village district, or unincorporated place shall appropriate or expend any taxpayer funds, whether through a budget or warrant article, to donate such funds to any non-profit organization.”
RSA 31:9-e
“This prohibition shall apply to all taxpayer funds, including general funds, reserve funds, and all other types of public funds.”
RSA 31:9-e
“The prohibition under paragraph I shall not apply to funds explicitly allocated to provide grants or financial assistance to non-profit organizations through a competitive bidding process, provided that such grants or assistance serve a clear public purpose and are in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.”
RSA 31:9-e
“Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to disqualify any nonprofit or any not-for-profit from entering into contracts for goods and services which would reasonably be provided through contracts or bidding processes.”
RSA 31:9-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Lorie BallRPrime
  • Rep. Lisa FreemanRAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Dennis MannionRVice Chair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Lilli WalshR, Rep. Henry GiassonR, Rep. Travis CorcoranR, Rep. Cindy BennettR, Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

563 signed in online · 335 wrote testimony

2% support98% oppose0% neutral

ForTaxpayer funds should not subsidize private nonprofits

AgainstBill strips local control from towns and voters

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill appears to prevent squandering of taxpayer funds to support some special interest origination. If you want to support them, then pay / join the organization directly. You'll get a BIG BEAUTIFUL FEDERAL TAX DEDUCTION.”
— E. J. LaCoursiere, Meredithsupports
“Yes I would prefer to entirely end the ability to outsource governance via public spending on non-profits. The growth of nonprofits and NGO unaccountable state actors undermines democracy and freedom. There are strings attached to this money.…”
— tom luther, claremontsupports
“Respectfully, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT GOVERNMENT MONEY… PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS… SHOULD NOT BE DIVERTED TO NONPROFITS… A NONPROFIT SHOULD RAISE ITS OWN FUNDS…”
— James Morgan, Newburysupports
“We oppose this bill because it would undermine the important work non-profit organizations do at the local level.”
— Barbara Richter, Concord · NH Association of Conservation Commissionsopposes
“This overreaching "restriction" is heavy-handed and lacks a solid explanation of why it's necessary. Why cut funding to helpful entities working on projects that municipalities don't have the staff or expertise to take on themselves?…”
— Loren Valliere, Barringtonopposes
“We rarely have any questions or issues raised with these Town meeting appropriations and it really should be up to the local community to determine how to expend the tax dollars.”
— Bernard Volz, Center Harboropposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government3:51:46–3:56:515m 5slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor 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

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 29
  2. Jan 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2026 11:00 am GP 154
  3. Feb 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/03/2026 11:15 am GP 153
  4. Feb 3, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/03/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 7 P. 18
  5. Feb 19, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 29

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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