This bill establishes a formal process for the Department of Environmental Services to transfer ownership of state-owned dams to local towns or groups of landowners before the dams are removed. Under the new rules, the department must offer the dams to affected municipalities first, providing them with detailed information about the dam's condition and estimated repair costs, and only proceed with removal if no one accepts the transfer within a set timeframe. To support these transfers and future maintenance, the legislation creates a loan program funded by a state dam maintenance fund, offering 20-year loans at a 5 percent interest rate to towns or associations that take ownership. The bill also mandates that any loans taken must be repaid using local budget appropriations or property taxes from areas bordering the impoundment, with a cap of 50 percent of those taxes. Additionally, the process includes an exemption for dams deemed to be in imminent danger of failure, allowing the state to remove them immediately without offering a transfer.
Interim Study Report: Not Recommended for Future Legislation (Vote 17-0)
This bill changes how vacancies are filled for school board seats that are elected at large in cooperative school districts. It requires that any person appointed to fill such a vacancy must live in the same town as the member who left the seat. The law also outlines a specific order for filling these gaps, starting with existing board members from the same town, then moving to local selectmen, and finally the district moderator if no agreement can be reached. These appointed individuals serve only until the next district election, at which point voters will choose a new representative for the full term.
SB 425 increases the fee for bail commissioners from $40 to $60. This change applies to individuals who act as bail commissioners in criminal cases, though those who are already full-time, salaried law enforcement officers or court staff will not receive the fee unless they are working outside their regular duties. The bill also specifies that the collected fees should be sent to the local town or city if the commissioner is a government employee, and it maintains the existing rule that fees must be waived for indigent defendants.
This bill updates the rules governing how the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification manages licenses and administrative regulations. It extends the validity of professional licenses to two years and ensures that timely renewal applications keep a license active until the office makes a final decision. The legislation also requires agencies to publish proposed rules online, file interim rules within specific timeframes, and provide detailed reports explaining how public comments were addressed. Additionally, it clarifies the legal process for challenging expired rules in court and mandates that agencies refund any fines or fees collected under invalid regulations.
This bill provides financial assistance to the town of Hampstead to help cover property tax losses caused by the state's purchase of the Hampstead Hospital. The state will distribute approximately $191,000 to the town, with the money coming from a mix of federal funds and general state funds if federal sources are unavailable. The law takes effect on July 1, 2024, and authorizes the governor to issue the necessary payment from the state treasury.
Conference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 15
This bill updates the definitions used in New Hampshire's campaign finance laws to clarify who and what counts as a candidate, political committee, and political advertisement. It expands the scope of "expenditures" to include various activities like research, data analytics, and childcare costs, while explicitly excluding non-campaign travel and certain non-partisan voter registration efforts. The legislation also formally defines "push-polling" as communications that ask questions about a candidate's character or record in a way that looks like a survey, aiming to provide clearer rules for election spending and communication.
SB 354 requires health insurance companies to apply money from independent charity patient assistance programs toward an enrollee's cost-sharing obligations, such as copayments and deductibles. This rule applies to group accident and health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs, but it excludes drugs that have generic or other covered alternatives available. The law also mandates that insurers receive specific details about assistance payments made on behalf of patients, while exempting high-deductible and catastrophic health plans from these requirements until the enrollee's annual deductible is met. Taking effect on January 1, 2026, the bill aims to streamline how charitable funds interact with insurance billing processes.
This bill updates the rules for conducting election recounts and audits in New Hampshire. It requires the Secretary of State to publish all recount and audit procedures and timelines before any such process begins. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State must review all election materials certified by local officials before announcing recount results or declaring a candidate elected. These changes aim to increase transparency and clarify the steps taken during the recount process.
This bill proposes adding a new article to the New Hampshire Constitution that explicitly states all people have the right to be free from slavery and involuntary servitude. It directs local officials to place this question on the November 2024 ballot for voters to decide whether to adopt the change. If approved by two-thirds of those voting on the specific amendment, the prohibition would become law upon the governor's proclamation. The measure does not alter current laws but seeks to codify this fundamental right directly within the state's constitutional text.
HB 1189 updates how the Department of Health and Human Services reports unpaid child support to federal agencies. The bill requires the department to use an automated system that only flags debts as delinquent if they meet specific federal minimum thresholds. When reporting these debts, the system must include the exact dollar amount owed to ensure accuracy. This change applies to the state's child support program and aims to align reporting practices with federal guidelines.
