* passed a budget 11% smaller than that of the prior budget, reducing spending by over $1.2 billion and general fund spending by $536 million, or 18%
* The state budget includes no new or increased taxes or fees.
Growing our Economy & Spurring Job Creation
* This budget eliminates the auto registration surcharge, which was costing our residents and small businesses between $30 and $75 every year for each vehicle they registered, putting $90 million back in our citizens' pockets.
* Cut a number of fees on restaurants, hotels, motels, pet stores, fishing enthusiasts, those selling condominiums, and people getting married.
Reducing the Regulatory Burden on NH
* enacted 43 laws to reduce regulation in New Hampshire this year to allow employers more flexibility and opportunity to grow and create jobs
* repealed a number of outdated/unnecessary laws that included: restrictions on the sale of oleomargarine, artificial flowers, miniature flags, and a ban on the sale of stove polish.
Fixing The Broken Retirement System
* A major achievement for this legislature was moving forward to repair the state's retirement system and its unfunded liability that exceeds $3.7 billion.
Enhancing Public Safety
* The Kimberly Cates law gives prosecutors the ability to seek the death penalty in the event that a criminal commits a murder during a home invasion.
* restored the authority of the Parole Board to keep violent criminals behind bars by removing mandatory nine-month parole for sexual and violent offenders and allow parole violators to spend more than 90 days back in prison
Protecting Local & County Property Taxpayers
* Local governments can now legally enforce municipal property tax and spending caps to limit growth in their communities
* teachers will now wait five years, instead of three, before receiving tenure, giving schools more time to evaluate their performance to ensure that students get high quality instruction in the classroom
Protecting Individual Liberty & Family
* two bills protect parents' rights by requiring parental notification of a minor before having an abortion and parental consent for a court to refer a child to a juvenile diversion program
* State law now protects individuals from being forced to purchase health insurance or to face a fine if they have not purchased health insurance.
Increasing Transparency in State Government
* The state will now post its checkbook online, to allow the public to see where their money is going, in an easy and simple format.
* A law makes public details of accidents involving state, county and local employees and officials in vehicles paid for by taxpayers.
Improving the Efficiency of State Government
* The court system has been overhauled to eliminate the probate, family and district courts, merging them into the circuit court, saving more than $38 million over 10 years, while also ensuring that furlough days are over, allowing speedy access to justice for our citizens.
* The Judiciary and Department of Safety can now use video teleconference for administrative hearings and motor vehicle cases, saving travel costs and time.
* The State Board of Education is no longer restricted in the number of charter schools that may operate in New Hampshire, providing an alternative to and competition for traditional schools statewide.