New Hampshire, like all states, has a unique early childhood policy landscape that is shaped by economics, demographics, political history, coalitions, and other factors that create a state-specific environment for policy advocacy.
State early childhood policy progress is dependent both on the state’s environment and the numerous efforts—by the organizations listed on this page, other organizations, parents, policymakers, practitioners, and more—who work both independently and collaboratively to achieve wins for young children.
Research shows that family economic security is foundational to children’s overall wellbeing. Research also shows that widespread disparities in opportunity (especially by race) drive wide disparities in outcomes. States with policies that offer strong support to young children and their families are more likely to see 1) declining numbers of children in low-income households and 2) low racial disparity among those children.
Young Children in Low-Income Households: Declining
Approximately 23 percent (27,000) of the state’s children 0-8 live in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (2022). This number represents a decrease from 254 percent (29,000) in 2017.1
Racial Disparity Among Young Children Living in Low-Income Households: High
Black, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native children aged 0-8 are significantly more likely to be living in households below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level than are Asian and non-Hispanic White children.2
State General Fund Appropriations: Growing
In 2025, New Hampshire’s governor signed a biennial budget covering fiscal 2026-2027. According to a report prepared by the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant, the budget provides for total appropriations from all funds of 16.5 billion over two years, including $8.19 billion in fiscal 2026 and $8.27 billion in fiscal 2027, representing annual increases of 0.6 percent in fiscal 2026 and 1.0 percent in fiscal 2027. Appropriations for federal funds are projected at $2.61 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 2.1 percent decrease compared to fiscal 2025) and $2.64 billion in fiscal 2027 (a 1.2 percent increase). Before adjustments, general fund appropriations for fiscal 2026 total $1.96 billion (a 7.0 percent decrease) and education trust fund appropriations are $1.29 billion (a 3.8 percent increase). Appropriations for federal funds are projected at $2.61 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 2.1 percent decrease) and $2.64 billion in fiscal 2027 (a 1.2 percent increase). After accounting for lapses and adjustments, General and Education Trust Fund appropriations combined total $3.21 billion in fiscal 2026 and $3.23 billion in fiscal 2027.
The budget is based on combined General and Education Trust Fund estimated revenues of $3.12 billion in fiscal 2026 (a 0.7 percent annual increase) and $3.25 billion in fiscal 2027 (a 4.0 percent increase). The combined General and Education Trust Fund has an estimated ending balance of $28 million for fiscal 2026 and $20 million for fiscal 2027, while the rainy day fund balance is estimated at $203.7 million in fiscal 2026 and $228.4 million in fiscal 2027.3
Largest Revenue Sources (after federal transfers):4
New Hampshire does not levy a general sales tax or individual income tax. (New Hampshire reports some income tax revenue because it levies a tax on interest and dividend income.) Charges are public payments connected with a specific government service, such as tuition paid to a state university, payments to a public hospital, or highway tolls.
State Budget Rules:4
New Hampshire uses a biennial budget. The legislature must pass a balanced budget, but it can carry a deficit over into the following year. There are no further tax and expenditure limits in New Hampshire, nor are there limits on either authorized debt or debt service incurred by the state.
There is no permanent state funding stream—such as lottery revenue, nicotine tax, or trust fund distributions—dedicated by statute to early childhood supports. (Examples of other states with such funding in place can be found in the Alliance’s Revenue and Early Childhood Finance resource center.)
Political Alignment: Aligned Republican
During the legislative session, the state’s Senate and House were both Republican controlled. The state’s Governor was also a Republican.6
Types of Common Ballot Measures Available:7 Two
Early Childhood Policy Advocacy Multi-State Initiatives Include:7
Early childhood policy advocacy multi-state initiatives present in the state include:8
Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:8
Senate Bill 243 streamlines the childcare assistance application process and reduces administrative burden on both families and providers. The bill improves the child care scholarship program in three major ways:
Recognizing the significant gaps in maternal health and wellness across New Hampshire, advocates including New Futures, the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, MomsRising NH, and Reproductive Equity Now worked to advance a”Momnibus 2.0″ in Senate Bill 246. Successfully passed, this maternal health package delivers real support for moms by improving maternal mental health screening and reducing care barriers; training rural EMS providers on labor and delivery emergencies; and strengthening workforce protections for postpartum and pediatric appointments. Maternal mental health screenings at well-child visits will also be covered by Medicaid and commercial insurance carriers. Commercial carriers will also begin to cover home visits. Additionally, no employer with 20 employees or more can deny an employee leave from work for medical appointments related to birth, postpartum care, or the child’s medical appointments within the first year of birth or adoption (up to 25 hours). In 2028, the Department of Health and Human Services will receive funding to establish a perinatal psychiatric provider consultation line.
The Alliance’s lead ally in New Hampshire, New Futures, collects and disseminates critical and reliable state-level data, makes policy recommendations, and provides tools for legislators, public officials, and advocates to advance positive policies for children and families in New Hampshire. The organization trains partners to advocate for strong and proven policies for the future health and prosperity of New Hampshire’s children.
New Futures is working to advance early childhood policies in several areas that align with the Alliance’s birth-through-eight policy framework:
Preschool and Pre-K
Child Care
Child Care Workforce
Child Health
Home Visiting
Maternal Health
Early Intervention (0-3)
New Futures learned that many coalition partners did not engage in advocacy because many of their funding sources prohibited advocacy or gave unclear guidance on allowed activities. To overcome this barrier, New Futures developed their Advocacy Field Grant program with support from their Alliance for Early Success grant.
NOTES:
1 Kids Count Data Center, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Children Ages 0 to 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, January, 2024.
2 National Center for Children in Poverty, Children Ages 0 through 8 Below 200 Percent Poverty, October 2024, NCCP analysis of ACS 5-Year Estimates – Public Use Microdata Sample 2018-2022.
3 National Association of State Budget Officers, Proposed and Enacted Budgets, FY 2026.
4 Urban Institute, State Fiscal Briefs, April 2025.
5 Alliance for Early Success, State Examples of Dedicated Funding Streams, 2025
6 National Conference of State Legislatures, 2025 State & Legislative Partisan Composition, January 31, 2025.
7 Ballotpedia, Ballot Measures by State, Kids Count Data Center, 2025.
8 Alliance for Early Success, Multi-State Initiatives for Early Childhood Policy Advocacy, July, 2024.
9 Alliance for Early Success, State-Wide Advocacy Highlights Survey, April-October, 2025.
