Bill > HB1753

This bill establishes the New Hampshire First for Veterans Program, a comprehensive initiative designed to support veterans, service members, and their families by creating a new authority with wide-ranging powers and responsibilities. The program aims to make New Hampshire the most veteran-friendly state by addressing critical needs such as ending veteran homelessness, improving healthcare access, preventing veteran suicide, supporting employment and skills transfer, and providing educational opportunities. The bill creates a 22-member board of directors with both voting and non-voting members, including representatives from the state senate, house of representatives, veterans council, and various state agencies. The authority will have the power to distribute financial assistance through grants, block grants, and loans to eligible applicants like municipalities and nonprofit organizations, with funds focused on supporting veteran-specific needs. The bill also establishes two new trust funds: the New Hampshire First for Veterans Trust Fund and the First for Veterans Administrative Fund, which will be primarily funded through specific motor vehicle-related fees and potentially other sources like donations and federal grants. The authority will be governed by an executive director appointed by the governor, and will be required to produce annual reports and conduct independent audits to ensure transparency and accountability in its operations.

Military Affairs and Security

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2198&inflect=2