This bill amends current law to improve New Hampshire's involvement in federal tax credit programs related to education and workforce training. It mandates the Department of Revenue Administration to engage in the federal income tax credit for contributions to qualified scholarship granting organizations, starting in taxable years after December 31, 2026. The bill introduces definitions for "qualified scholarship granting organization" and "eligible workforce training programs" based on federal statutes and requires the Department of Education to compile and annually submit a list of these organizations to the Secretary of the Treasury. Additionally, it stipulates that the Governor, in collaboration with the State Workforce Innovation Board, must approve workforce training programs that align with federal Workforce Pell Grant requirements, while prohibiting any state division from adopting rules to implement these provisions.

Moreover, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the State Workforce Innovation Board (SWIB) in consulting with the Governor to approve training programs and ensuring compliance with federal regulations, including standardizing applications and conducting program reviews. It anticipates the need for additional staffing and IT resources, specifying the creation of at least one new full-time position to manage the program, with estimated costs of $101,000 in FY 2027. However, the bill does not allocate funding for this position or the necessary enhancements to the NH Job Match System, which could incur costs between $150,000 and $250,000 for initial upgrades and ongoing fees. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and does not authorize new positions or appropriations for the anticipated costs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-I:1-a
As Amended by the House: 21-I:1-a
As Amended by the Senate: 21-I:1-a, 21-J:3
HB1774 text: 21-I:1-a