New Hampshire’s State government will receive a total of $994.6 million in flexible Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, with additional amounts appropriated to counties and municipalities. The federal government requires these funds be used for four broad purposes: to respond to the negative health and economic impacts of the pandemic, to provide premium pay for essential workers, to offset losses in public revenue, or to invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure. States and local governments are encouraged to use these funds to benefit long-term health and economic outcomes and support people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

The State received the first half of these funds in May 2021, and will likely receive the second half in May 2022. State policymakers have appropriated about $416.6 million (41.9 percent) of these flexible funds, and $578.0 million (58.1 percent) remain. These figures do not include proposed but unapproved appropriations, such as the Governor’s recently announced housing initiative.