SB 513 — relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

SB 513-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED SESSIONBY 26-2109THE 12/09HOUSE SENATE7May2026... BILL 513-FN AN ACT requiring schools to engage an owner's project manager for construction of school building aid projects at the time of application.

1586h SESSION 26-2109 12/09 SENATE BILL 513-FN AN ACT relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

Education Finance ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This billbill: requires schools to have engaged the services of an owner's project manager at the time they apply for school building aid.

I.

Permits schools to hire an owner's project manager (OPM) before entering into a contract for design services in order for an OPM to represent a school throughout the design process.

II.

Requires that a hired OPM maintain no contractual conflicts of interest with any architect, design team member, or general contractor hired by a school for a construction or reconstruction/renovation project.

III.

Increases the threshold cost for projects where a school district or chartered public school is required to hire an OPM.

SB 513-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED 26-2109BY 12/09THE STATEHOUSE OF7May2026... NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT requiring schools to engage an owner's project manager for construction of school building aid projects at the time of application.

1586h 26-2109 12/09 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to the hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or renovation projects which utilize school building aid.

Specifications, and Costs of Construction or Purchase.Purchase;

Owner's Project Manager Requirements Modified.

A school district or chartered public school that [accepts]accepts applies for school building aid for construction shall haveengage [engage] engaged the services of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction or reconstruction/renovation projects of $1,250,000[$1,250,000] $2,000,000 or more, unless the commissioner waives such requirement as unnecessary.

TheAn owner'sOPM projectmay managerbe shallhired havebefore hisentering into a contract for design services in order to represent the best interests of the school throughout the design process, including assisting the superintendent of schools or hercharter ownschool comprehensivedirector liabilitywith andhiring autothe insurance,architect, workers'analyzing compensationthe coverage,project feasibility, and professionalselecting liabilitya coverage.project delivery system.

The stateOPM board of education shall adopthave rulesno pursuantcontractual toties RSA 541-A relative to the requiredarchitect, services,design responsibilities,team, andor qualificationsgeneral forcontractor the owner's project manager to ensureavoid theconflicts projectof owner'sinterest. best interests are carried out.

The [owner's project manager] OPM shall have his or her own comprehensive liability and auto insurance, workers' compensation coverage, and professional liability coverage.

The state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to the required services, responsibilities, and qualifications for the [owner's project manager] OPM to ensure the project owner's best interests are carried out.

LBA 26-2109 9/29/2505/18/2026 SB 513-FN- FISCAL NOTE AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-1586h) AN ACT requiringrelative schools to engagethe hiring of an owner's project manager (OPM) for construction ofor schoolrenovation building aid projects atwhich theutilize timeschool ofbuilding application.aid.

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Local Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0 Local Expenditures $0 IndeterminableIndeterminable, Possibly No Impact METHODOLOGY:

This bill changesincreases from $1.25 million to $2 million the timeproject whencost threshold at which a school district or chartered public school mustreceiving retainschool thebuilding servicesaid ofmust hire an owner’s project manager (OPM) for theconstruction purposesor ofrenovation applyingprojects. for a school building aid grant.

Currently,This OPMsbill arealso onlyallows requireda school district or chartered public school to behire retainedan forOPM aearly buildingin aidthe applicantproject toprocess, receivebefore anhiring award.architects or design firms, so the OPM can advise and represent the school’s interests during planning and project development.

ThisIt billalso wouldrequires require applicants to retain the services of an OPM prior to submittingremain aindependent buildingfrom aid application.At the timearchitect, ofdesign applicationteam, submittal,and therecontractor isin noorder guaranteeto thatavoid appropriationconflicts willof beinterest. available or that applicants will receive an award.

AnyThis impactbill's thatimpact, thisif billany, may have on local school districtsdistrict applyingexpenditures foris schoolindeterminable buildingand aidwould isvary indeterminable.by district.

For informational purposes, the Department of Education states that the services for an OPM generally run at 1% to 5% of the total project cost.