1 New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership. RSA 12-O:46 to 12-O:50 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

12-O:46 Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs (DBEA).

II. "Department" means the department of business and economic affairs.

III. "Eligible institution of higher education" means any public or private institution of higher education authorized to grant 2-year or 4-year degrees in this state by the higher education commission pursuant to RSA 21-N:8-a.

IV. "Graduate" means a student who graduates from an eligible institution of higher education in May 2019 or thereafter.

V. "Incentive" means a monetary award given each year for not more than 4 years by a participating employer to a graduate which the graduate may elect to be paid to the graduate or to an entity servicing the graduate's student loans.

VI. "Participating employer" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, the state or political subdivision of the state, or any other entity which enters into a participating employer agreement to provide an incentive to a graduate.

VII. "Participating employer agreement" or "agreement" means an agreement prepared jointly by the department of business and economic affairs in consultation with the New Hampshire College and University Council and the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire.

12-O:47 New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership Established. There is established the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive partnership (NH GRIP) which shall be administered by the department. The purpose of NH GRIP is to recruit and retain graduates from eligible institutions of higher education and provide incentives to those graduates to work in New Hampshire.

12-O:47-a Implementation.

I. The department shall relaunch and administer NH GRIP in accordance with this subdivision.

II. The department shall develop and publish application procedures and eligibility guidelines for participating employers, including but not limited to:

(a) Criteria for employer participation;

(b) Terms of graduate employment and retention;

(c) Documentation and reporting requirements; and

(d) Any other rules necessary to carry out the purposes of the program.

12-O:47-b Prioritization. In administering NH GRIP, the department shall give priority to employers headquartered or principally located in New Hampshire that qualify as small businesses under federal or state definitions; and employers in sectors experiencing documented workforce shortages, including but not limited to health care, skilled trades, and technology.

12-O:48 Requirements and Procedure. Each participating employer shall compile a list of positions which qualify for an incentive under NH GRIP. The participating employer shall publish the list of qualifying positions on the employer's public Internet site and on any Internet employment search site used by the participating employer. A graduate who obtains employment in a qualifying position with a participating employer and who executes an agreement, shall receive an incentive of not less than $1,000 each year for the first 4 years of the graduate's employment with the participating employer. The agreement shall be signed by an authorized agent of the participating employer. The participating employer shall retain a copy of each signed agreement in its files.

12-O:49 Advertising. The department shall, in cooperation with the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire College and University Council, the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Fund, the New Hampshire Coalition for Business and Education, and Stay, Work, Play NH, advertise to New Hampshire employers and New Hampshire college students the details of NH GRIP, through print and electronic media. The department shall maintain a list of employers who have a valid participating employer agreement and shall make the list available on the department's public Internet site as well as in writing.

12-O:50 Funding. For the biennium beginning July 1, 2027, and each biennium thereafter, the commissioner shall include any requests for appropriations related to NH GRIP in the biennial agency budget requests pursuant to RSA 9:4.

12-O:50-a Reporting.

I. The department shall publish an annual report detailing program participation, costs, and outcomes.

II. On or before November 1 of each year in which NH GRIP is active, the department shall submit a report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house and senate finance committees, and the house and senate commerce committees. The report shall include:

(a) The number of participating employers and graduates;

(b) Retention outcomes and geographic distribution of participants;

(c) Program expenditures and administrative costs; and

(d) Recommendations for program continuation, expansion, or modification.

III. A comprehensive review of program efficacy shall be conducted every 5 years by the department.

12-O:50-b Rulemaking. The department of business and economic affairs, in consultation with the New Hampshire lottery commission and the department of revenue administration, shall have the authority to adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary for implementation of this subdivision.

2 Appropriations. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, are hereby appropriated to the department of business and economic affairs for the purpose of advertising and disseminating information to New Hampshire college students and graduates regarding the New Hampshire college graduate retention and incentive partnership (NH GRIP) established in RSA 12-O:47 through 50-b. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

1 New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership. RSA 12-O:46 to 12-O:50 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

12-O:46 Definitions. In this subdivision:

I. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of business and economic affairs (DBEA).

II. "Department" means the department of business and economic affairs.

III. "Eligible institution of higher education" means any public or private institution of higher education authorized to grant 2-year or 4-year degrees in this state by the higher education commission pursuant to RSA 21-N:8-a.

IV. "Graduate" means a student who graduates from an eligible institution of higher education in May 2019 or thereafter.

V. "Incentive" means a monetary award given each year for not more than 4 years by a participating employer to a graduate which the graduate may elect to be paid to the graduate or to an entity servicing the graduate's student loans.

VI. "Participating employer" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, the state or political subdivision of the state, or any other entity which enters into a participating employer agreement to provide an incentive to a graduate.

VII. "Participating employer agreement" or "agreement" means an agreement prepared jointly by the department of business and economic affairs in consultation with the New Hampshire College and University Council and the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire.

12-O:47 New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership Established. There is established the New Hampshire college graduate retention incentive partnership (NH GRIP) which shall be administered by the department. The purpose of NH GRIP is to recruit and retain graduates from eligible institutions of higher education and provide incentives to those graduates to work in New Hampshire.

12-O:47-a Implementation.

I. The department shall relaunch and administer NH GRIP in accordance with this subdivision.

II. The department shall develop and publish application procedures and eligibility guidelines for participating employers, including but not limited to:

(a) Criteria for employer participation;

(b) Terms of graduate employment and retention;

(c) Documentation and reporting requirements; and

(d) Any other rules necessary to carry out the purposes of the program.

12-O:47-b Prioritization. In administering NH GRIP, the department shall give priority to employers headquartered or principally located in New Hampshire that qualify as small businesses under federal or state definitions; and employers in sectors experiencing documented workforce shortages, including but not limited to health care, skilled trades, and technology.

12-O:48 Requirements and Procedure. Each participating employer shall compile a list of positions which qualify for an incentive under NH GRIP. The participating employer shall publish the list of qualifying positions on the employer's public Internet site and on any Internet employment search site used by the participating employer. A graduate who obtains employment in a qualifying position with a participating employer and who executes an agreement, shall receive an incentive of not less than $1,000 each year for the first 4 years of the graduate's employment with the participating employer. The agreement shall be signed by an authorized agent of the participating employer. The participating employer shall retain a copy of each signed agreement in its files.

12-O:49 Advertising. The department shall, in cooperation with the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire College and University Council, the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Fund, the New Hampshire Coalition for Business and Education, and Stay, Work, Play NH, advertise to New Hampshire employers and New Hampshire college students the details of NH GRIP, through print and electronic media. The department shall maintain a list of employers who have a valid participating employer agreement and shall make the list available on the department's public Internet site as well as in writing.

12-O:50 Funding. For the biennium beginning July 1, 2027, and each biennium thereafter, the commissioner shall include any requests for appropriations related to NH GRIP in the biennial agency budget requests pursuant to RSA 9:4.

12-O:50-a Reporting.

I. The department shall publish an annual report detailing program participation, costs, and outcomes.

II. On or before November 1 of each year in which NH GRIP is active, the department shall submit a report to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house and senate finance committees, and the house and senate commerce committees. The report shall include:

(a) The number of participating employers and graduates;

(b) Retention outcomes and geographic distribution of participants;

(c) Program expenditures and administrative costs; and

(d) Recommendations for program continuation, expansion, or modification.

III. A comprehensive review of program efficacy shall be conducted every 5 years by the department.

12-O:50-b Rulemaking. The department of business and economic affairs, in consultation with the New Hampshire lottery commission and the department of revenue administration, shall have the authority to adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary for implementation of this subdivision.

2 Appropriations. The sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, are hereby appropriated to the department of business and economic affairs for the purpose of advertising and disseminating information to New Hampshire college students and graduates regarding the New Hampshire college graduate retention and incentive partnership (NH GRIP) established in RSA 12-O:47 through 50-b. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.