New Hampshire
NH’s minimum wage is $7.25. After latest House vote, it’s unlikely to change this year
See David Bennett advocate for minimum wage increase to $20 by 2030
See Rep. David Bennett talk about his minimum wage bill to raise it to $20 by 2030.
New Hampshire’s minimum wage is about half the amount workers are paid in all other New England states, and that seems unlikely to change this year.
On Thursday, the New Hampshire House set aside the issue for now by voting to table a bill that would eventually raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2028. It was a largely party line vote of 197 to 159, with all Democrats and two Republicans in opposition to tabling the bill.
New Hampshire’s current minimum wage is $7.25, which is the federal minimum. It has not increased since 2009.
Lawmakers can vote later to take the bill off the table and decide whether to pass it. But if the bill is not taken off the table by the end of this year’s session, it will die. The bill had come to the floor with a report of inexpedient to legislate, meaning it was unlikely to pass before the tabling motion was made.
Why doesn’t NH increase the minimum wage?
Rep. Kathy Staub, D-Manchester, who sponsored the bill, said that the low minimum wage is “out of step” with surrounding states. All other states in New England have raised their minimum wage to at least $14 as of 2025.
“The 61,000 workers who make less than $15 an hour in the state do important work and deserve fair compensation,” she said.
However, Rep. James Creighton, R-Antrim, who asked to table the bill, said that the bill will “harm New Hampshire businesses” and that “the market should drive wages.”
Another bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026 was already killed by the Senate in early March.
Democratic lawmakers in New Hampshire have tried to raise the minimum wage for the past 12 years, but they’ve continued to face steep opposition from Republicans.
These bills also face an uphill battle with new Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who opposed raising the federal minimum wage as a U.S. Senator and has stuck to that position, saying during her campaign for governor that the minimum wage should be up to the market and private businesses.
What’s the minimum wage in other New England states?
Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut and Maine increased their minimum wage in 2025, largely due to cost-of-living increases.
Here is the minimum wage in each New England state, from lowest to highest:
- New Hampshire: $7.25
- Vermont: $14.01
- Maine: $14.65
- Massachusetts: $15
- Rhode Island: $15
- Connecticut: $16.35
What state has the highest minimum wage?
While technically not a state, Washington D.C. has the highest minimum wage in the country at $17.50.
Washington state has the next highest at $16.28, and it increased in 2025 to $16.66 per hour.
The third highest is California, which increased its minimum wage to $16.50 in 2025. Fast food restaurant employers and healthcare facility employers have a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage for fast food workers starts at $20 and for healthcare workers it’s a scale that starts at $18 depending on the type of work.
New York and then Connecticut are the next two highest.
Contributing: Katie Landeck
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Awaits Bitcoin Bond Buyer to Get First State Effort Rolling
New Hampshire moved this week to foster the state’s first effort toward establishing a $100 million bitcoin bond, which would be directed by a state entity but backed by a private-sector firm, according to those involved with the effort.
The New Hampshire Business Finance Authority authorized “$100,000,000 bonds for a project to acquire and hold digital currency,” according to the description on its agenda. The NHBFA doesn’t direct state-backed bonds, but encourages private-sector entities to administer them. If that happens with this bond, the New Hampshire Executive Council will review the deal and vote on whether to approve it.
Once approved, the project will go live — the first of its kind in the nation.
The NHBFA is a self-funded, state-created organization meant to foster New Hampshire’s economic development. Proceeds from its bond projects return to the entity to help bolster its operation.
State Representative Keith Ammon, a longtime advocate for crypto policy in New Hampshire, said this first bitcoin bond effort is meant to be a template for more to come.
“Bitcoin can partially insulate our state’s runaway inflation,” he said in an interview with CoinDesk. “This is like training wheels to get to that point, protecting our state’s finances from future devaluation of the dollar.”
He said the two-year bond would be reliant on a rising value for bitcoin.
In this past year, BTC is down about 6%, after having climbed steadily for months before its sharp decline beginning last month.
New Hampshire has been in the forefront of state governments pursuing crypto policies. The New England state was the first to establish a crypto reserve earlier this year, moving much more quickly than the federal government, which is still in the planning stages.
New Hampshire
NH toll booth crash leaves 2 people seriously hurt, 2 dogs dead, police say
A minivan slammed into a New Hampshire toll both on Tuesday, sending both people inside to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and killing at least two of the dogs inside, police said.
The Chrysler Pacifica crashed into the Bedford Toll Plaza on the southbound side of the F.E. Everett Turnpike about 9:17 a.m., New Hampshire State Police said. The driver, a 76-year-old woman from Manchester, and her passenger were taken to a local hospital to be treated for their serious injuries.
Three dogs were inside, two of whom died, according to police.
An image shared by police showed the minivan, with serious damage to its front end, at rest across the entrance a toll both. The side appeared to have been cut open by first responders working to free the occupants.
Speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash, which remained under investigation as of Tuesday afternoon. The incident closed three toll lanes until late morning.
New Hampshire
Community Leaders Gather for Dismas Home of New Hampshire’s Hard Hat Tour in Rochester – The Rochester Post
On November 6, Dismas Home of New Hampshire welcomed local business leaders, community partners, and government officials to a Hard Hat Tour of its newly purchased property at 6 Healthcare Drive in Rochester. The event marked an exciting milestone in Dismas Home’s mission to expand its proven recovery and reentry program to serve an additional 20 women in Strafford County—including women veterans, who will comprise 25% of the beds at the new facility.
Sponsored by Lighthouse Credit Union, the event provided guests with a rare “before” look at the future Rochester home, which is slated to open in spring 2026, coinciding with Dismas Home’s 10th anniversary. Attendees were guided through the site by members of the Board of Directors and organizational leadership, who shared the nonprofit’s vision for transforming the property into a warm, safe, and restorative environment for justice-involved women striving to rebuild their lives after incarceration and substance use disorder.
“This expansion represents the next step in our vision to ensure that women in every county of New Hampshire have access to the support and structure they need to find hope, healing, and stability,” said Cheryll Andrews, Executive Director of Dismas Home of New Hampshire. “The turnout and enthusiasm we witnessed today reaffirm that our community stands with us in this mission.”
Among those in attendance were:
Mayor Paul Callaghan
Deputy Mayor Donald Hamann
Councilors Tim Fontneau, Kevin Sullivan, and Alexander deGeofroy
City Manager Kathryn Ambrose
NH Executive Councilor Joe Kenney
Strafford County Sheriff Kathryn Mone
State Senator James Gray (District 6)
Mike Scala, City of Rochester
Mayor-Elect Chuck Grassie
Major General Gretchen Dunkelberger (Ret.), U.S. Air Force
…and many others representing the strength and spirit of the Rochester community.
Guests expressed strong support and interest in Dismas Home’s expansion and its unique two-phase residential model, which has already helped dozens of women transition successfully back into their communities.
The Rochester facility will be the organization’s second location, joining its flagship residence in Manchester, NH. Once complete, it will provide a structured environment with wraparound services addressing substance misuse, trauma, employment, education, and family reunification.
About Dismas Home of New Hampshire
Dismas Home of NH is a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers justice-involved women with substance-use disorder the opportunity to heal and thrive through evidence-based clinical treatment and robust social support services in a loving, home-like environment. Dismas Home is a New Hampshire state-licensed healthcare facility and DHHS contractor, partnering with healthcare providers, the justice system, educational institutions, and local businesses. Dismas Home delivers a secure place to heal and the tools to reclaim an empowered life.
Learn more at www.dismashomenh.org
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