Rep. Manohar pitches employer-funded GRIP to keep New Hampshire graduates in state
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Summary
Rep. Sanjeev Manohar told the House Education Committee HB 17-01 would create a voluntary, employer-funded framework to encourage New Hampshire college graduates to stay in the state, stressing it is "about retention, not recruitment" and requires little state spending beyond reporting.
Representative Sanjeev Manohar, prime sponsor of HB 17-01, told the House Education Committee the bill is a narrowly scoped, employer-led effort to help keep college graduates working in New Hampshire. "HB 17 oh 1 is a modest response to that problem," Manohar said, describing the New Hampshire Graduate Retention Incentive Partnership Program as "a voluntary employer driven framework" that allows employers to offer multi-year retention incentives funded solely by employers. "It's about retention, not recruitment," he added.
Manohar said the state's role under the proposal would be limited to setting a consistent framework, collecting information and reporting outcomes to provide visibility for small and mid-size employers that lack resources to design their own retention schemes. He emphasized the proposal includes no tax credits or direct state reimbursements to employers and characterized the initial budget footprint as minimal: the draft statute would reestablish the program in 2026 with nominal placeholder appropriations in 2027 and 2028.
Committee members pressed Manohar on details. Some representatives asked whether the bill would effectively require employers to report participation or create state contracts; Manohar said an amendment narrows any administrative role, permitting employer self-certification and clarifying that employer agreements are private. Others raised workplace equity concerns, pointing out the potential friction if employers paid New Hampshire graduates more than other equally qualified hires. Manohar acknowledged trade-offs but said the state must try low-risk tools to stem a persistent outflow of recent graduates.
Corinne (Connie) Benfield, executive director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire, testified in support on behalf of a coalition that also includes the Business & Industry Association and the New Hampshire College & University Council. Benfield told the committee the state competes nationally for talent and that incentives and statewide attention can help retain young workers who face mounting student-debt and housing-cost pressures.
The hearing closed with members asking for amendment text and additional technical details; no committee action or vote was recorded during the hearing. The bill remains before the committee for further review and potential amendment.