New Hampshire House votes to repeal Housing Champions program

The program aimed to boost housing development, but faced criticism over lack of accountability

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 185 to 166 to repeal the state's Housing Champions program, which awarded $5 million in grants over the past two years to 11 towns and cities that removed barriers to housing development. The program was not funded in the current state budget, and supporters of the repeal argued it lacked accountability and had not lowered property taxes as intended. Opponents said the program was already helping address the state's housing crisis.

Why it matters

The Housing Champions program was seen as a key initiative to boost housing production in New Hampshire, which has faced a severe shortage of affordable homes. The repeal vote reflects ongoing political debates over the best ways to tackle the state's housing challenges, with concerns over government spending and program oversight weighing against the potential benefits of incentivizing local zoning reforms.

The details

The Housing Champions program, created in 2023, awarded grants to municipalities that took steps to remove barriers to housing development. Over the past two years, $5 million in grants were distributed to 11 communities. However, the program was not funded in the current state budget, and a bill to repeal it passed the New Hampshire House. Supporters of repeal argued the program lacked accountability and had not lowered property taxes as intended, while opponents said it was already helping address the housing crisis by supporting new construction.

  • The Housing Champions program was created in 2023.
  • In 2024, the program awarded $5 million in grants to 11 communities.
  • On February 5, 2026, the New Hampshire House voted 185 to 166 to repeal the program.

The players

Joe Alexander

A Republican state representative from Goffstown who helped create the Housing Champions program and is now calling for its repeal.

Karen Hegner

A Democratic state representative from Manchester who spoke against repealing the Housing Champions program, citing its success in her city.

Alexis Simpson

A Democratic state representative from Exeter, whose town was recently designated a Housing Champion, and who argued the program is helping solve the housing crisis.

Julie Miles

A Republican state representative from Merrimack who spoke in favor of repealing the Housing Champions program, criticizing the lack of accountability over how grant money was spent.

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What they’re saying

“It needs to be repealed, it's not doing its job.”

— Joe Alexander, State Representative (inklink.news)

“They put in the effort, they absorbed the expense, they earned the right to participate. And now, after all that, we're telling them the support we promised may not come through? That's not how this is supposed to work.”

— Karen Hegner, State Representative (inklink.news)

“It makes no sense to repeal this program when the latest data is data we want to see.”

— Alexis Simpson, State Representative (inklink.news)

What’s next

The bill to repeal the Housing Champions program now moves to the New Hampshire Senate for a vote. If passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, the program would be officially repealed.

The takeaway

The debate over the Housing Champions program reflects the ongoing challenges New Hampshire faces in addressing its housing shortage. While the program aimed to spur more development, its repeal highlights the political tensions around government spending, program oversight, and the best strategies for tackling the state's housing crisis.