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Senate declines immediate $5 million refill for ‘housing champion’ grant fund; extension and lapse debated
Summary
Senators debated restoring and extending the housing champion designation and grant program. A $5 million per‑year replenishment request was removed from the committee’s active list after members expressed concern about new spending in a tight budget; the committee left other technical extensions in place.
Senators considered a request to appropriate $5 million per year in fiscal 2026 and 2027 to replenish the Housing Champion Designation and Grant Program Fund, which supporters said has helped municipalities implement housing and zoning changes.
Supporters argued the program is an “incredibly effective” tool and that initial funding would be exhausted by June without a refill. Senator Rosenwald said the program helps municipalities secure infrastructure and technical support to implement housing reforms passed this session.
Opponents raised fiscal caution and pointed to uneven municipal uptake — the chair noted 18 municipalities had adopted the program while some, including Laconia, chose not to join. Senator Lang said he could not support an additional $10 million commitment (biennial total) given other budgetary demands and asked to remove the request from the active list.
The committee voted to remove the $5 million replenishment request from the active items and instead extended existing lapses where necessary so the program can continue on currently appropriated funds. Senators left open the possibility of revisiting funding later in the budget process if surplus funds can be identified.
