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SB 633 · 2026 · Senate · Ways and Means Committee

Donations to arts patron fund

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to donations received by the granite patron of the arts fund.

Authorizes the granite patron of the arts fund to accept donations and make expenditures under $50,000 without prior approval, while requiring quarterly financial reporting.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 22, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill authorizes the granite patron of the arts fund to accept donations and make expenditures under $50,000 without approval and requires filing of quarterly financial reports.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The division and the council are authorized to institute programs to solicit and receive any gifts, grants, donations, or to receive federal matching funds made for the encouragement of the arts and to deposit such gifts, grants, or donations in the New Hampshire council on the arts fund under this section.”
Section 144:1
“The division and the council shall acknowledge receipt of any gifts, grants, or donations within 15 days of receipt on a form provided by the commissioner of the department of revenue administration.”
Section 144:1
“Donations greater than or equal to $50,000 shall require the approval of the governor and executive council.”
Section 144:1
“Expenditures greater than or equal to $50,000, and expenditures on employees of the division, shall require the approval of the governor and executive council, and with a report to the fiscal committee of the general court.”
Section 144:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David WattersDPrime
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Billie ButlerD, Rep. Mark PearsonR

Public testimony

7 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

57% support43% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support SB 633 because it strengthens arts funding mechanisms and improves administrative clarity. Supporting the arts benefits communities and enhances cultural and economic vitality.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchestersupports
“Voluntary or not, I do not support adding additional administrative resources to manage another program for the Arts. We have much larger issues that the state needs to address.”
— Cory Stone, Doveropposes
“You have no constitutional basis for giving away public money for this purpose.”
— Daniel Richardson, Nashuaopposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Ways and Means32:22–33:511m 29slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Special Order to to the Next Session, Without Objection — adopted
  • Feb 5, 2026Floor debateSenate floor5:27:52–5:32:124m 20slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — failed, voice vote; Sen. Lang Moved Ought to Pass
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means2:09:23–2:10:311m 8slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:40:18–1:41:231m 5slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; ==CANCELLED== Executive Session
  • Apr 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means1:10:52–1:16:305m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1353h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1353h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-1353h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floor22:58–23:5759slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Lang Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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 Ways and Means; SJ 1
  2. Jan 14, 2026SenHearing: 01/14/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:15 am; SC 46
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 01/29/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenSpecial Order to to the Next Session, Without Objection, MA; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Feb 5, 2026SenCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 02/05/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 4
  6. Feb 5, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MF, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  7. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Lang Moved Ought to Pass; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  8. Feb 5, 2026SenSen. Lang Floor Amendment # 2026-0517s, AA, VV; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  9. Feb 5, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-0517s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/05/2026; SJ 3
  10. Feb 19, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 5 P. 127
  11. Mar 9, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/09/2026 11:45 am GP 159
  12. Mar 23, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/23/2026 10:30 am GP 159
  13. Mar 23, 2026House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/23/2026 11:30 am GP 159
  14. Apr 6, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/06/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  15. Apr 6, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/06/2026 10:45 am GP 159
  16. Apr 6, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1353h 04/06/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC)
  17. Apr 23, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1353h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15
  18. Apr 23, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1353h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15
  19. May 7, 2026SenSen. Lang Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  20. May 21, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 34
  21. May 21, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
  22. Jun 12, 2026SenSigned by the Governor on 06/12/2026; Chapter 144; Effective 08/11/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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