In preparation for the 2026 elections, the nonprofit Citizens Count reached out to dozens of nonprofits and advocacy groups, reviewed polls, identified most-tracked legislation, and asked across social media: “What are the top issues you want to ask the candidates this year?”
Based on the feedback, here are the most pressing policy debates in the Granite State:
Addressing the Housing Shortage
While the NH Legislature passed many statewide zoning changes in 2025 and 2026, there is no quick fix to the housing shortage. Voters are eager for elected officials to do more. Housing has long been the top issue in NH, according to the Granite State Poll (conducted by the UNH Survey Center), and many businesses and nonprofits echoed those concerns to Citizens Count.
Incoming legislators may debate more funding options in 2027. This year the Legislature considered repealing the Housing Champion program, which prioritizes state grants for communities that welcome housing development. Gov. Kelly Ayotte pushed to keep the program. The Legislature also voted on various tax credits related to new infrastructure for housing development.
Reforming School Funding (and Property Taxes)
The NH Supreme Court ruled last year that the state must provide more per-pupil funding for education. HB 1815, a bill pushing back on that Supreme Court ruling, is among the most viewed bills on the Citizens Count website this year. “Per-pupil school funding” was also rated as the top issue according to the non-scientific survey, distributed to Granite Staters.
The debate over school funding is twofold. It is a conversation about how NH invests in the next generation, and it is also a conversation about taxes. Property taxes, NH’s only broad-based taxes, are essential for school funding, but property owners are feeling the pinch from growing tax bills. In 2026, legislators also debated a statewide cap on how much local school districts can increase their budgets each year.
The newly elected Legislature will likely debate state school funding as part of the 2027 budget process. Debates over open enrollment and Education Freedom Accounts are also likely to make a comeback in 2027. Meanwhile, voters will also get a chance to weigh in on their local school budget and tax rates.
Income, Interest & Dividends Taxes
New Hampshire’s no-tax pledge is a staple every election season. This year, House Republicans pushed to add a ban on income taxes to the NH Constitution. Republicans did not get the supermajority needed, and they have already warned Democratic legislators that any failure to support the amendment will haunt them this election season.
Interestingly, there are some Democrats and Citizens Count followers who want to see the state reinstate an Interest and Dividends tax, perhaps with a higher threshold to exempt more retirees from paying. They argue phasing out the Interest and Dividends tax benefited the wealthiest in NH at the expense of middle- and lower-income residents. It would take a Democratic majority in the House, Senate, and Governor’s office to reinstate, so it may be more of a theoretical debate than an electoral reality.
Honorable Mentions
When you look at the legislation getting the most views on the Citizens Count website or the most comments on Facebook, social issues and voting laws dominate. For example, the CHARLIE (Countering Hate and Revolutionary Leftist Indoctrination in Education) Act was the top viewed bill on the Citizens Count website for the 2026 session. Our unscientific survey of Citizens Count followers ranked “proof of citizenship for voter registration” as the second most important issue to ask candidates.
There may be a gap between what voters claim are their most important issues and what issues get them to vote. New Hampshire has relatively high electricity costs, but Citizens Count did not hear from many individuals that energy was a top priority. However, businesses were likely to mention energy among their top areas of concern. This year, state legislators also had debates around nuclear energy, net metering, and how to allocate renewable energy funds.
Anna Brown is executive director of Citizens Count, a nonprofit dedicated to providing unbiased information about NH issues and candidates. For more information, visit CitizensCount.org.
