New Hampshire HB 1753: establishing the New Hampshire first for veterans program and authority.

Bill Text

HB 1753-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2986

 07/06

HOUSE BILL 1753-FN

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire first for veterans program and authority.

SPONSORS: Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Gagne, Hills. 16; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Rollins, Sull. 3; Rep. Roy, Rock. 31; Sen. Innis, Dist 7

COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes the first for veterans program, a program designed to attract, retain, and support veterans in the state.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2986

 07/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire first for veterans program and authority.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Subdivision; First for Veterans Program. Amend RSA 110-B by inserting after section 91 the following new subdivision: 

First for Veterans Program

 110-B:92 Declaration of Purpose. The general court declares it to be the purpose of this subdivision to: 

 I. Maintain the state’s ability to attract and retain veterans to New Hampshire and attain and maintain a position as the most veteran-friendly state. 

 II. Acknowledge and address demand signals for critical resources, service, and support. 

 III. Recognize the gaps and the importance of public and private partnerships to identify, develop, and resource solutions to facilitate overcoming barriers to veterans, service members and their families. 

 IV. Learn, adapt, seek, and resource new and more transformational concepts that raise awareness of the state’s veteran-friendly advocacy, policy, and laws. 

 V. Develop veteran employment support and improve focus on veteran well-being. 

 VI. Provide strategic messaging and transition assistance programs and reinforce critical gaps, including mental healthcare access, suicide prevention, substance use disorder, physical well being, employment, and housing stability. 

 110-B:93 Definitions. In this subdivision: 

 I. "Authority" means the New Hampshire first for veterans authority. 

 II. "Board" means the board of directors of the New Hampshire first for veterans authority. 

 III. "Grant obligations" means the legal obligation arising from the use of program funds. 

 110-B:94 New Hampshire First for Veterans Program Established. 

 I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire first for veterans program. The program shall provide funding to promote the general welfare of the state’s veterans, service members and their families by providing quality services. 

 II. The program will prioritize efforts that: 

 (a) Contribute to ending veteran homelessness in New Hampshire;

 (b) Attract and retain veterans to New Hampshire and match their unique skills with veteran-friendly businesses and organizations and provide them with employment support; 

 (c) Improve access to physical and mental healthcare, suicide prevention measures, oral healthcare options, and substance use disorder treatment;

 (d) Support military skills transfer, training, and certification; and

 (e) Address a broad range of educational opportunities, including institutions of higher learning, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships and initiatives focused on the trades. 

 110-B-95 New Hampshire First For Veterans Authority. 

 I. There is hereby established the New Hampshire first for veterans authority, which shall act as a both a public and private entity. The authority shall be constituted as a public instrumentality of the state. The authority and power conferred by this subdivision shall be deemed and held to be the performance of public and essential governmental functions. The authority shall be a nonprofit corporation organized under RSA 292. 

 II. The authority shall be governed by a board of directors composed of 22 members. Voting members shall not appoint designees to act in their places. A chairperson shall be elected from among the members. 

 III. Board members with voting powers shall be as follows: 

 (a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate. 

 (b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. 

 (c) Five members of the veterans council, appointed by the governor. 

 (d) The commissioner of the department of military affairs and veteran services, or designee. 

 IV. Board members without voting powers shall be as follows: 

 (a) A representative from the New Hampshire first for veteran board, or designee.

 (b) Th