HB 770-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0785
07/08
HOUSE BILL 770-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Schultz, Merr. 29; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Woodcock, Carr. 1
COMMITTEE: Education Funding
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a program in the department of education for eligible students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0785
07/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Tuition Credits for State of New Hampshire Higher Education Institutions Through Community Service. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-e the following new section:
21-N:8-f Tuition Credits for State of New Hampshire Higher Education Institutions Through Community Service.
I. The department of education shall establish and administer a program to provide tuition credits for state institutions of higher education earned through community service. The program, known as the "triple win program", shall provide tuition credits to eligible high school students and post-secondary education students. The credits may be used for tuition at participating institutions of higher education. Tuition credits shall be distributed based on available funding in accordance with this section and rules adopted thereunder.
II. The program shall be available to all high school and post-secondary education students attending public educational institutions in New Hampshire. To be eligible for a tuition credit, the student must be attending a public New Hampshire high school or be enrolled in a public institution of higher education in New Hampshire.
III. A student who volunteers 100 hours in one calendar year at an approved volunteer site in New Hampshire, such as a nursing home, food bank, or homeless shelter, shall be eligible for a tuition credit of $2,500 a year. An eligible student may receive a maximum of 8 tuition credits, over an 8 year period, totaling $20,000 in tuition credits.
IV. Tuition credits shall not be available to high school students attending a public university outside of New Hampshire or students attending private colleges or private universities. High school students attending private high schools or preparatory schools shall not be eligible.
V. There is established in the treasury a nonlapsing fund known as the triple win fund, which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds. The triple win fund shall be continually appropriated to the department of education for the purpose of distributing tuition credits in accordance with this section. In additional to general fund appropriations, the commissioner of the department of education may accept any gifts, grants, donations, or other funding from any source for deposit in fund. Each fiscal year, the commissioner shall disburse funds pursuant to this section up to the limit of available funds.
VI. The commissioner of the department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to approved volunteer sites, participating schools and institutions of higher education, student eligibility criteria, and the distribution of tuition credits. The department shall also develop forms, in collaboration the participating organizations and educational institutions, to document program participation and volunteer service.
2 New Subparagraph; Dedicated Fund; Triple Win Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new paragraph:
(400) Moneys deposited in the triple win fund under RSA 21-N:8-f.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0785
Revised 2/3/25
HB 770-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | CCSNH and USNH Tuition Revenue | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Department of Education Expenses Position Costs - $255K in FY 2026, $267K in FY 2027, and $276K in FY 2028
Tracking System Costs $10K-$100K in FY 2026, and Indeterminable in FY 2027 and Beyond
CCSNH Operating Costs Indeterminable | ||||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund, USNH and CCSNH Operating Budget, Triple Win Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | Continually Appropriated | ||||
Funding Source(s) | Triple Win Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a program for eligible students to earn tuition credits at state higher education institutions through community service and establishes a dedicated fund for the program’s purpose (although this bill does not provide an appropriation or funding source beyond the potential of grants, gifts, or donations).
The Department of Education states it would be tasked with creating a system to approve and track public high school student’s volunteer hours and to create a system to approve volunteer sites as well as student and higher education institution eligibility. The Department states it would need at least three (3) full time staff members (and possibly more) to implement the proposed system and to track the hours/students. The estimated cost for three (3) program specialist II positions (SOC 11-02, starting step 1) is $255,000 in FY 2026, $267,000 in FY 2027, and $276,000 in FY 2028 (assuming a start date of July 1, 2025). The Department states the number of total staff needed beyond three (3) is indeterminable as it is unknown how many students (up to 12,503 high school seniors in 2024 and a further number of current post-secondary students would be eligible) would take advantage of the program. Lastly, the Department states it is unknown how much a tracking system would initially cost but the range is most likely $10,000-$100,000. There also would be unknown ongoing costs to maintain such a system. This bill provides neither authorization nor appropriation for new personnel.
The Community College System of New Hampshire states this bill would add administrative workload for it to work with the Department of Education as outlined in the language. CCSNH states it is unknown whether the workload could be absorbed within current workforce/hours or whether it would require the addition of a part-time coordinator. Assuming passage of this bill results in the need for additional personnel, the impact could range between $10,000 and $100,000 per year. In addition, CCSNH states this bill could result in an indeterminable increase in tuition revenue, to the extent that students may choose to enroll because of earning tuition credit.
The University System of New Hampshire states it is likely that this bill will not impact its operating expense or revenue, as expense for program administration would be borne by the Department of Education, and the tuition credit itself would supplant other sources of USNH tuition revenue. The System states it is possible that the program could attract more NH public high school grads to enroll in USNH institutions, which could grow enrollment and net revenue; however, quantifying the magnitude of that potential growth is not possible given the uncertainty around available program funding in a given year and student capacity/inclination to perform 100 hours of community service in a given year.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education, Community College System of New Hampshire, and University System of New Hampshire
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2025 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/07/2025 10:15 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 23, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Funding HJ 3