Bill > HB624

This bill establishes a new grant program administered by the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to provide funding for Local River Management Advisory Committees (LRMACs). Under the proposed legislation, each LRMAC can submit a funding request of up to $10,000 annually to support their activities related to river management. The bill appropriates $40,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the General Fund to support these grants, with the DES Commissioner required to develop administrative rules for grant application and distribution procedures. The grant program is specifically designed to help local committees fulfill their duties as outlined in an existing law (RSA 483:8-a), and the funding can be used to support resources needed for their river management activities. While the bill provides direct grant funding, the fiscal note indicates that the DES may need to absorb additional administrative costs of approximately $9,000-$10,500 not covered by the appropriation, and the grant program is set to expire after fiscal year 2027 unless further legislative action is taken. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0664&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB624