New HampshireHB3482025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

relative to eligibility for local assistance.

Sponsored By: Jennifer M Rhodes (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Emergency aid bridges local residency disputes

Welfare officials must provide up to 6 days of temporary help when someone temporarily in town faces a basic-needs emergency. This includes time needed to obtain residency proof, apply to their town of origin, or coordinate with that town. If the assisting town starts a residency hearing, help must continue until the final decision while the applicant follows local assistance guidelines. Temporary help does not establish residency for local welfare purposes. General assistance under these changes must be provided without paying cash directly to recipients.

Residency protections for local aid applicants

These changes take effect 60 days after passage. When towns require residency proof for general assistance, they must accept qualifying address documents dated within the past 60 days. Examples include a lease, vehicle registration, utility bill, or government or court document matching the applicant's stated address. They must also accept a signed agency-letterhead statement from an authorized welfare, police, fire, emergency medical, or local social services provider. That provider must have an existing relationship with the applicant and include the last contact date. Officials can reject qualifying proof only with specific, supported evidence against it. Towns cannot deny aid on residency grounds to people who left their town because of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, or human trafficking.

Local aid standards reflect household costs

Towns and cities must adopt written general assistance guidelines covering applications, eligibility, appeals, and residency disputes. Basic-cost standards must reflect household size and local market costs, using objective public, provider, or government cost information. Towns must review these standards annually and adjust them when needed. Permanent housing limits do not govern emergency housing; officials use local or regional rates available during the emergency. Officials can approve documented exceptions for immediate basic needs or to prevent a costlier future need, but only when no cheaper available option is enough. Exceptions are discretionary and do not create a right to future exceptions. Guidelines must address whether specified state benefit reductions count as income and require rental offsets where applicable.

Towns share aid costs through reimbursement

The applicant's town of residence generally bears local assistance costs, subject to statutory exceptions. If the assisting town believes the person lives elsewhere, it must seek reimbursement, request ongoing help, or request a residency hearing. An agreed neutral hears disputes: a consenting current or former welfare official from a third town, or a qualified attorney. Hearings may use the alleged responsible town's fair-hearing procedures and may occur by phone or video with agreement. A town found responsible must repay past aid at its own guideline rates, then keep reimbursing or take over assistance.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jennifer M Rhodes
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Daryl Abbas
Republican • Senate
Bob J. Lynn
Republican • House
Donald S McFarlane
Republican • House
Bill M. Gannon
Republican • Senate
Daniel E. Innis
Republican • Senate
Jason M. Osborne
Republican • House
Joe Sweeney
Republican • House
Ross Berry
Affiliation unavailable
Steven T Bogert
Republican • House
Terry W Roy
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 190 • No: 157

House vote • 1/8/2026

OTPA