Bill > HB659

This bill establishes the New Hampshire College Graduate Retention Incentive Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to retain college graduates within the state by offering three key financial incentives. First, eligible graduates working full-time in high-need fields such as healthcare, STEM, education, and technical trades can receive up to $5,000 annually in student loan forgiveness, with a total maximum forgiveness of $20,000 over four years. Second, graduates who live and work full-time in New Hampshire will be eligible for a $1,000 annual cash rebate for up to five years. Third, businesses hiring New Hampshire graduates will receive a $500 rebate per hire (applied to the Business Enterprise Tax) for up to two years, and businesses can also receive a 50% reimbursement of intern wages up to $5,000 annually, with priority given to small and medium-sized businesses. The program will be funded through multiple sources, including potential annual appropriations, 15% of New Hampshire Lottery profits, federal grants, and public-private partnerships. The Department of Business and Economic Affairs (DBEA) will manage the program, establish application procedures, verify eligibility, and publish annual reports. The program is set to be implemented in July 2025 and will be reviewed comprehensively every five years, with a planned repeal date of July 1, 2035.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0453&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB659