SB 513-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
7May2026... 1586h
2026 SESSION
26-2109
12/09
SENATE BILL 513-FN
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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
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.
26-2109
9/29/25
SB 513-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill changes the time when a school district or chartered public school must retain the services of an owner’s project manager (OPM) for the purposes of applying for a school building aid grant. Currently, OPMs are only required to be retained for a building aid applicant to receive an award. This bill would require applicants to retain the services of an OPM prior to submitting a building aid application. At the time of application submittal, there is no guarantee that appropriation will be available or that applicants will receive an award. Any impact that this bill may have on local school districts applying for school building aid is indeterminable. For informational purposes, the Department of Education states that the services for an OPM generally run at 1% to 5% of the total project cost.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | 2026-1586h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 28, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 28, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 28, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
May 14, 2026: Sen. Murphy Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1586h: MA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12
May 7, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1586h: AA VV 05/07/2026 HJ 12
April 30, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1586h (NT) 04/28/2026 (Vote 17-0; RC) HC 18 P. 11
April 21, 2026: Executive Session: 04/28/2026 11:15 am GP 232
April 15, 2026: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 04/28/2026 10:30 am GP 232
March 25, 2026: Public Hearing: 03/31/2026 10:30 am GP 232
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Education Funding HJ 5 P. 124
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass: RC 16Y-8N, MA; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026, Vote 4-2; SC 6
Dec. 22, 2025: Hearing: 01/22/2026, Room 103, SH, 10:10 am; SC 47A
Nov. 21, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Education Finance; SJ 1