This bill amends RSA 165:1, I to restrict eligibility for local assistance to only United States citizens or permanent legal residents. The current language that refers to "person" is replaced with "United States citizen, or legal permanent resident," and the pronouns "he" and "him" are replaced with gender-neutral terms "the person" and "himself or herself." This change aims to clarify that local assistance is exclusively available to individuals who meet these citizenship or residency criteria, regardless of their town of residence.

The fiscal impact of this bill is expected to be indeterminable, as it may lead to a reduction in municipal welfare costs due to fewer individuals qualifying for assistance. The New Hampshire Municipal Association suggests that this could create a decrease in local expenditures, although the exact financial implications will not be fully realized until after FY 2025. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 165:1