Solving NH’s Workforce Problem Means Solving NH’s Childcare Problem: Starting with HB 1195
Read on below to see why it’s critical for our workforce that HB 1195 passes.
A job offer in New Hampshire recently fell through because a family couldn’t find childcare.
That story came up yesterday (March 9) during our March Advocacy Network conversation with Rep. David Paige and Natch Greyes, VP of Public Policy of the Business & Industry Association, and it (unfortunately) perfectly illustrates the challenge our state is facing.
Rep. Paige shared how a top candidate was ready to relocate to Gorham for a job, until their family realized they couldn’t secure childcare in the area. The offer fell through.
Stories like this are becoming far too common.
Right now, NH faces a shortage of roughly 9,000 childcare seats, forcing many parents to leave the workforce, reduce hours, or turn down opportunities altogether.
As Natch said during the conversation:
“Every one of us has talked to an employer who has said, ‘I’ve had the perfect candidate who won’t take the job because of the lack of childcare.’ If we don’t start solving for that, we’re not going to be attracting those candidates anymore.”
That’s why HB 1195 matters. The bill helps remove unnecessary local zoning barriers that make it difficult for childcare providers to open or expand, while still maintaining the rigorous state safety and licensing standards that protect kids.
It also makes it easier for childcare centers to co-locate with workplaces, something many employers in the business community want to support.
Will this bill solve the entire childcare challenge? No.
But it’s a meaningful step toward addressing one of the biggest workforce barriers in the state.
📅 The NH House votes on HB 1195 tomorrow, March 11.
If you want to help move this forward:
📩 Use our quick template below to email your representative and urge them to vote YES on HB 1195:
🎥 Missed the conversation?
Catch the full recording of this Advocacy Network session below. We promise it’s worth the watch.
