New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

New Hampshire House Bill HB165

Introduced
1/6/25  
Refer
1/6/25  
Report Pass
2/4/25  
Refer
2/13/25  
Report Pass
3/17/25  
Engrossed
3/28/25  
Refer
3/28/25  
Report Pass
4/9/25  
Enrolled
5/13/25  
Chaptered
5/30/25  

Caption

Relative to the maximum amount of disaster relief funding provided to municipalities after a natural disaster.

Impact

By raising the funding cap, HB 165 potentially enhances the ability of municipalities to recover from disasters more effectively. The bill mandates that municipal requests for funding must be submitted within 45 days of a disaster's declaration by the governor. However, it does not allocate new funding sources nor does it specify how these increased funds would be accessed beyond existing balances in the relevant disaster and emergency response funds, thereby leaving the actual impact somewhat indeterminate.

Summary

House Bill 165 aims to amend existing laws regarding disaster relief funding provided to municipalities in the state of New Hampshire. The bill proposes to increase the maximum annual amount of funds that a municipality can receive from the disaster relief fund from $25,000 to $100,000. This change is intended to facilitate better support for local governments in the aftermath of natural disasters, allowing them to access more funding for infrastructural repairs and recovery efforts than currently allowed under existing regulations.

Contention

While some legislators and local officials may support the increased funding limit as a necessary step toward preparedness and rapid response, critics may express concerns about the lack of new funding mechanisms. The bill does not address the zero balance in the New Hampshire Emergency Response and Recovery Fund and the limited resources currently available in the Disaster Relief Fund. Thus, even with an increased cap on funding, the actual availability of funds could still be constrained, raising questions about the feasibility of the proposed changes.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

NH HB1466

Relative to providing disaster relief funding to municipalities after a natural disaster.

NH SB493

Relative to establishing municipal emergency disaster relief loan fund to aid municipalities in a natural disaster.

NH SB499

Relative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Summer EBT program and making appropriations therefor and relative to providing disaster relief funding to municipalities after a natural disaster.

NH HB534

Relative to water assistance for natural disasters.

NH HB1488

Relative to hazard mitigation funding.

NH SB436

Relative to maximum benefits payable in unemployment compensation.

NH SB466

Relative to allowing the department of transportation to erect sound barriers upon request of municipalities.

NH HB1566

Relative to the review of police investigations.

NH SB342

Relative to school building aid funding.

NH HB1514

Relative to excess funds paid to municipalities for the use of school districts.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.