The New Hampshire Senate voted Thursday to preserve a program designed to encourage municipalities to update zoning laws and support new housing development.

Sponsored by several Republican legislators, House Bill 1196 sought to repeal the state’s Housing Champions Program, which grants certain towns and cities deemed “housing champions” preferential access to $5 million in funding for development and infrastructure projects.

The repeal effort cleared the House but faced resistance in the Senate from the outset.

Nick Taylor, director of Housing Action NH, said housing advocates were grateful to senators for keeping the program intact. He called the program a “vital component” of the fight to address the housing crisis in New Hampshire.

“We look forward to expanding the number of ‘housing champion’ communities, investing in needed infrastructure improvements through the Housing Champions grant programs and making long-term regulatory changes that will continue benefiting the state of New Hampshire and its citizens for years to come,” Taylor said in a statement. 

According to the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the 28 communities designated as “housing champions” were responsible for approving 45% of the housing units built last year.

Boscawen, Concord, Hooksett, Derry, and Manchester are some of the municipalities that have received that designation.

While some funds supported housing and homelessness services, other portions were intended to clear the way for new housing that, depending on various factors, were ultimately never built.

While some funds supported housing and homelessness services, other portions were intended to clear the way for new housing that, depending on various factors, were ultimately never built.