Bill > HB1543

This bill restructures the process for disposing of or transferring state-owned real estate, particularly highway-funded properties, by introducing new procedural requirements to protect municipal interests. Specifically, the bill mandates that before the state can dispose of or reclassify class I or class II highways still in public use, the Department of Transportation must provide written notice to the municipal government and hold a public hearing. The municipality then has 90 days to either concur with the disposal or object, in which case they can negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the commissioner regarding rehabilitation, phased transfer, or transition assistance. The bill also requires the department to prepare a detailed "turnback condition report" documenting the highway's current condition, including pavement, drainage, culverts, sidewalks, signage, and structures, and certify completion of all required rehabilitation before any transfer can occur. Additionally, the legislation provides some exceptions for segments no longer used for motor vehicle travel, minor remnants created by highway relocation, and temporary emergency realignments. The overall goal is to ensure transparent and collaborative processes when transferring state-owned transportation infrastructure to municipalities, with protections to maintain infrastructure quality and municipal interests.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1992&inflect=2