Republicans advance bill to repeal Housing Champions program

After New Hampshire allotted $5 million in incentives in 2023 for towns to create more development-friendly policies and infrastructure, Republican state representatives are moving to end the grant program.

The House advanced a bill on Thursday that would repeal the Housing Champions program with a 185-166 vote, mostly along party lines.

Proposed by Rep. Matthew Drew of Manchester and supported by Republican leadership, the legislation would repeal the designation for towns that the state had recognized as having housing-friendly zoning policies.

The program yielded mixed results across the state. Some of the funding went toward housing and homelessness supports; some was promised to clear the way for new housing units that may never happen.

Republicans argued that government incentives do little to lower property taxes; Democrats, meanwhile, said funding assistance is vital to helping towns improve infrastructure and builders combat high construction costs.

The 28 towns dubbed Housing Champions were responsible for approving 45% of the units built in 2025, according to a state report.

The program awarded $1.5 million to four towns for affordable housing units that they’d added to the market, as well as $3.5 million to seven towns to assist with infrastructure projects that are anticipated to make new development easier.

About half the grant money still lies with the state, promised to towns as reimbursement for the infrastructure work. If the repeal becomes law, it’s unclear whether that money would be clawed back.

The bill still faces consideration from the House Ways & Means Committee and, if it advances, the Senate, where at least one Republican has expressed hesitation to end the program.

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