State agencies would plan, measure, and report program results

Agency heads would submit strategic plans and annual results reports, while the governor would require yearly performance plans. The requirements would cover every unit of executive branch state government. Performance plans would cover each program activity in an agency's budget. Goals would normally need to be measurable. If that is not workable, the commission could approve a clear descriptive goal or an explanation of why no useful goal can be set. Only state employees could draft performance plans and results reports. The first annual results report would be due by September 30, 2026. Strategic plans would be due by September 30, 2029, cover at least the next two years, and be updated at least every two years.

The commission would review selected programs, send recommendations to House budget writers, and oversee projects that test ways to measure results. The measurement projects would cover at least five programs for fiscal years 2026, 2028, and 2030 and represent a range of government work. The governor would appoint no more than 20 members from New Hampshire's business community. They would serve unpaid and meet at least monthly. The commission would send recommendations before the budget process when it believes a program is missing efficiency and budget goals. The commission would report the projects' benefits, costs, problems, and possible rule changes to the House Finance Committee by September 30, 2028. The act would otherwise take effect upon passage.

Agencies could ask the commission to waive certain administrative rules in exchange for specific responsibility for meeting a performance goal. Waivers could cover administrative procedures and controls, including staffing levels, compensation limits, and limits on moving funds. A proposal would have to explain and measure the expected gains. Another agency would have to endorse waiving a rule it set. Any pay change would need exact dollar amounts tied to meeting, exceeding, or missing performance goals. A supermajority of the commission would set a waiver for one or two years, with renewal allowed. After three straight years, a plan could propose making a non-pay waiver permanent.