New Hampshire SB 513: relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

Bill Text

SB 513-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

7May2026... 1586h

2026 SESSION

 26-2109

 12/09

SENATE BILL 513-FN

AN ACT relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

SPONSORS: Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Rep. Donnelly, Rock. 25; Rep. Janigian, Rock. 25; Rep. D. Mannion, Rock. 25; Rep. Sweeney, Rock. 25

COMMITTEE: Education Finance

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill:

 I. Permits schools to hire an owner's project manager (OPM) before entering into a contract for design services in order for an OPM to represent a school throughout the design process. 

 II. Requires that a hired OPM maintain no contractual conflicts of interest with any architect, design team member, or general contractor hired by a school for a construction or reconstruction/renovation project.

 III. Increases the threshold cost for projects where a school district or chartered public school is required to hire an OPM.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7May2026... 1586h 26-2109

 12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

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

 1 School Building Aid; Approval of Plans; Specifications, and Costs of Construction or Purchase; Owner's Project Manager Requirements Modified. Amend RSA 198:15-c, III to read as follows:

 III. A school district or chartered public school that accepts school building aid for construction shall engage the services of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or reconstruction/renovation projects of [$1,250,000] $2,000,000 or more, unless the commissioner waives such requirement as unnecessary. An OPM may be hired before entering into a contract for design services in order to represent the best interests of the school throughout the design process, including assisting the superintendent of schools or charter school director with hiring the architect, analyzing the project feasibility, and selecting a project delivery system. The OPM shall have no contractual ties to the architect, design team, or general contractor to avoid conflicts of interest. The [owner's project manager] OPM shall have his or her own comprehensive liability and auto insurance, workers' compensation coverage, and professional liability coverage. The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the required services, responsibilities, and qualifications for the [owner's project manager] OPM to ensure the project owner's best interests are carried out. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 LBA

 26-2109

 05/18/2026

SB 513-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-1586h)

AN ACT relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable, Possibly No Impact

METHODOLOGY:

This bill increases from $1.25 million to $2 million the project cost threshold at which a school district or chartered public school receiving school building aid must hire an owner’s project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects. This bill also allows a school district or chartered public school to hire an OPM early in the project process, before hiring architects or design firms, so the OPM can advise and represent the school’s interests during planning and project development. It also requires the OPM to remain independent from the architect, design team, and contractor in order to avoid conflicts of interest. This bill's impact, if any, on local school district expenditures is indeterminable and would vary by district.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education