Here’s a few Free Stater examples of recent legislative decisions before we head into the midterm and state elections.
State Budget: HB1 and HB2 cut state education grants for 145 communities from FY26 to FY27. The budget did not restore NH’s contribution toward retirement costs for municipal police officers, firefighters and teachers. HB 155 signed into law by Gov. Ayotte, reduces the amount of taxes paid by large corporations. The result is state revenue will decrease by more than $50 million over a two-year budget cycle. When the wealthy pay less, guess who pays more?
Public Education Funding: the budget did not increase public education funding or provide new school building aid, rather it cut education aid to municipalities by over $17 million statewide from FY26 to FY27. However, Free Staters got the income cap for the school voucher program removed and funding was increased to $87 million. HB 1815, another Free Stater bill, reduces state responsibility (ignoring court orders) and defunds public schools.
What the Free Staters voted against; HB 734 SWEPT (State Wide Education Property Tax) reform and property tax relief; HB 1578 transparency for public funds used in school vouchers; HB 1799, HB 1826 and HB 1831 would have increased state support for adequate and special education while supporting higher-need districts.
Did you know? The state spent more than $51 million on school vouchers during the 2025–2026 school year, but just can’t find the money for free or reduced price lunches for public school kids.
Local control: something all municipalities and New Hampshire people (except elected Free Staters) value. SB 62 removes the power of local towns and counties to have any say in how taxpayer funded law enforcement resources are used to support ICE efforts. Law enforcement agencies who enter into arrangements with ICE receive training with all operational charges placed on the shoulders of taxpayers in the towns or communities signing on to the arrangement. Should a town or municipality get sued for say, wrongful incarceration or deportation, brutal treatment while held, etc. that town is on the hook for its own defense.
Gov. Ayotte signed that bill into law this past Jan.
On your ballot in Nov. will be a referendum question regarding capping school budgets. This will only undermine local control of school budgets despite a current NH law which already allows for school districts to adopt a tax cap.
Did you know? “The New Hampshire Supreme Court’s 1999 opinion found a question like this amounts to an unconstitutional delegation of power by the Legislature.” The decision clarified that while NH citizens have a constitutional right to consent to taxation, that right does not extend to creating or selecting tax policy through a referendum. If passed, this will undermine, even more so, the state’s responsibility to fully fund public education.
End Result: Due to the continuous lack of funding for education, infrastructure, municipal aid, retirement contributions or other shared responsibilities, the costs do not go away. If this manner of “governing” continues, local services to school districts and towns may have to be cut, projects will be delayed and local property taxpayers will be asked to cover the difference. . . again!
This is now in the hands of the voters. Use your power in Nov.
Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, English philosopher, statesman and writer. Bacon actually wrote the Latin phrase “scientia potentia est,” which translates roughly as “knowledge is power.”