Bill > SB21

This bill establishes the New Hampshire State Trooper Retention School Loan Debt Relief Program to address the state trooper shortage by providing financial incentives for new troopers. The program will offer student loan repayment assistance to eligible police employees hired on or after July 1, 2025, who owe at least $10,000 in student loans. Participants will receive $10,000 towards their student loan principal for each of their first five years of employment, with a maximum total disbursement of $40,000. To be eligible, troopers must remain employed in New Hampshire and have outstanding student loan debt during their first five years. The program will be administered by the Department of Safety, with a dedicated fund established to receive appropriations, grants, and donations. The fund will be non-lapsing and continuously appropriated, and the department will create rules governing application procedures, eligibility criteria, and fund disbursement. While the initial appropriation is symbolic (just $1), the fiscal note estimates the program could cost between $100,000 and $1,000,000 annually, depending on the number of eligible troopers with student loan debt. The program is designed to help recruit and retain state troopers by providing meaningful financial assistance for education expenses.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=196&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB21