New Hampshire residents gathered at a public listening session to voice concerns about proposed state budget cuts affecting Medicaid, education, and mental health services. The state budget as passed by the House would spend $15.36 billion over two years, representing a $643 million reduction from the budget presented in February by Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
The proposed cuts include $38 million in reductions to community mental health and Medicaid reimbursement rate cuts of 3% across the board over the next two years, which is projected to mean nearly $53 million in cuts. These reductions come as the state faces an $80 million deficit expected at the end of the fiscal year June 30. Families depending on Medicaid for care expressed particular concern about the impact on vulnerable populations, with one advocate noting that New Hampshire had achieved several days with zero individuals in the emergency room involuntarily—a significant victory in limiting psychiatric patients waiting for care in emergency rooms.
The budget also includes $70 million in cuts to the University System of New Hampshire over the next two years and $50 million in cuts to housing programs, which Democrats said would zero out the Housing Trust Fund, Housing Champions, InvestNH and services for the homeless. Additionally, 150 positions would be cut in the Department of Corrections, raising concerns that such reductions would increase the risk of reoffending.
State Sen. President Sharon Carson indicated the Senate was continuing to take testimony from involved agencies before making decisions, noting that “it is too early in the budget process to say where things will ultimately end up.” Democrats and Republicans disagreed on whether the cuts were necessary, with some proposing that the $30 million allocated for Education Freedom Accounts—school voucher programs—could be redirected to offset reductions in Medicaid and public education.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/state/2025/04/25/nh-residents-fight-state-budget-cuts-medicaid-usnh-mental-health/83247096007/