New Hampshire Senate Bill SB493

New Hampshire 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/13/23
• Refer: 12/13/23
• Refer: 1/31/24

Caption

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

Impact

The bill allocates an initial appropriation of $5 million from the general fund to kickstart the Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Fund. Local governments would benefit by having access to capital that can address urgent infrastructure needs and recovery efforts in the wake of disasters. However, municipalities are required to pursue other state and federal funding opportunities to ensure timely repayment of these loans, suggesting that localities would need a proactive stance in managing disaster recovery financing. The implementation of this fund is deemed to not require new personnel at the state level despite the management needs indicated in the fiscal notes.

Summary

Senate Bill 493 establishes a Municipal Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Fund intended to aid municipalities affected by natural disasters. This bill is motivated by the need for immediate financial assistance to local governments that may face significant costs in the aftermath of disasters. The fund aims to provide loans at zero percent interest for up to five years, allowing municipalities to respond promptly to crises without the burden of high repayment costs. The loans will be available only when federal funds, like FEMA assistance, cannot be obtained, thus placing a reliance on previous forms of support before local loans can be utilized.

Contention

While the overarching goal of SB 493 is to provide timely help to municipalities, some concerns have been raised regarding the operational aspects of the loan fund. Opposition may stem from the fear that without careful management and oversight, the fund may not adequately address the financial needs of municipalities or that municipalities may face challenges in repaying loans without guaranteed external funding. There is also a necessity to scrutinize the sustainability and effectiveness of such a loan program, particularly regarding its dependency on FEMA and other federal assistance mechanisms. The discussions around this bill indicate a broader debate on how best to equip local governments to handle the financial burdens that arise after natural disasters.