Governor Chris Sununu submitted his budget proposal to the legislature this morning. The New Hampshire Governor highlighted the budget had no new taxes of any kind and did not raise fees, commenting that government budgets should operate under the same fiscal constraints balancing revenues with expenditures as household budgets. Some highlights of the budget include:

• Adding $15 million to the rainy day fund to bring its total to $137.3 million.

• Sending money back to poor communities to use for school infrastructure.

• Increasing Special Education Aid by 18%

• Providing $32.5 million for student debt assistance.

• Providing $40 million for eliminating the Emergency Department’s waitlist, relocating children’s mental health services to their own space.

• Increase funding for the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to $2.4 million a year.

• Increased funding to the Human Rights Commission to clear a backlog of cases.

• $50,000 per year to fund Diversity and Cultural Competency training in public schools.

• Consolidating the Adjutant General’s Department, the Office of Veteran Services, and the Bureau of Community-Based Military Programs into one department of Military Affairs and Veterans services.

The Governor also proposed fully legalizing sports betting to raise additional revenues and the creation of a Council of Responsible Gaming to help those with gambling addictions.