SB 180-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0990
02/05
SENATE BILL180-FN
AN ACTdesignating Coos county as a distressed place-based economy.
SPONSORS:Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Rep. Durkin, Coos 1; Rep. S. King, Coos 4; Rep. A. Davis, Coos 2; Rep. Ouellet, Coos 3; Rep. Tierney, Coos 1
COMMITTEE:Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill designates Coos County as a distressed place-based economy and requires commissioners of state agencies to consult with county commissioners before making regulatory decisions that would affect Coos County.
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Explanation:Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0990
02/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACTdesignating Coos county as a distressed place-based economy.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Legislative Intent. Traditional one-size-fits-all government services systemically disadvantage various sections of the population or economically distressed rural regions. Coos County has repeatedly endured significant economic losses and has faced comparatively greater financial impacts and higher unemployment than other counties in the state. Therefore, in an attempt to foster greater economic sustainability for its interdependent industries and to stimulate economic growth in Coos County, the general court recognizes Coos County is a place-based economy that requires collaborative and tailored regulatory decision-making. Local governments and businesses will see greater success when departments use public-private partnerships to utilize shared knowledge, strengths, and resources to drive solutions. Greater effort is needed to view local governmental jurisdictions as partners to allow for more efficient use of resources and enforcement and avoid inconsistent directives with regional economic conditions.
2 New Chapter; Coos County Established as Distressed Place-Based Economy. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 162-T the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 162-U
COOS COUNTY ESTABLISHED AS DISTRESSED PLACE-BASED ECONOMY
162:U:1 Definitions. In this chapter:
I. "Place-based economy" means a tailored economic development response that uses a region's unique characteristics to create and sustain growth. The goal is to improve the quality of life and economic vitality by building on its limited strengths and assets.
II. "Distressed" means an area that has a high rate of poverty, unemployment, or outmigration and is the most severely and persistently economically distressed and underdeveloped.
162:U:2 Regulatory Principle for Department Commissioners. Commissioners of state departments shall include county government input for any Coos County decisions impacting its place-based economy. Collaborative regulatory approaches with existing regional economic objectives shall minimize unintended economic impacts. To protect the health, safety, and economic welfare of Coos' interdependent place-based economy, agencies shall seek to achieve statutory goals as effectively and efficiently as possible without imposing unnecessary burdens on local governments. Failure to recognize differences in the scale and resources of these entities adversely affects competition in the marketplace, discourages innovation, and restricts productivity improvements to the economic landscape.
162:U:3 Reporting. To achieve principle established under this chapter, commissioners shall only issue regulatory decisions in Coos County once interdependent economies and/or economic development plans are analyzed and, if unavoidable, shall report with justification and basis for such decision, and mitigate any such opposing actions that would inherently damage Coos' place-based economy with its decision. Commissioners shall ensure that such decisions are not incompatible with decisions of other departments.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBA
25-0990
1/19/25
SB 180-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACTdesignating Coos county as a distressed place-based economy.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
Estimated State Impact
FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
Revenue $0 Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable
Revenue Fund(s) General Fund Fish and Game Account
Expenditures* $0 Indeterminable$10,000 to $100,000 Indeterminable$10,000 to $100,000 Indeterminable$10,000 to $100,000
Funding Source(s) General Fund Fish and Game Account
Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0
Funding Source(s) None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
Estimated State Impact
FY 2025
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
Revenue
$0
Indeterminable
Indeterminable
Indeterminable
Revenue Fund(s)
General Fund Fish and Game Account
Expenditures*
$0
Indeterminable
$10,000 to $100,000
Indeterminable
$10,000 to $100,000
Indeterminable
$10,000 to $100,000
Funding Source(s)
General Fund Fish and Game Account
Appropriations*
$0
$0
$0
$0
Funding Source(s)
None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a complete fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Administrative Services, Department of Environmental Services, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Departments were originally contacted on 1/10/25 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill designates Coos County as a distressed place-based economy and requires commissioners of state agencies to consult with county commissioners before making regulatory decisions that would affect Coos County.
The Fish and Game Department states that the fiscal impact of this bill is indeterminable as it lacks sufficient language, guidance, and definitions to determine how this would change Department operations. With the broad language, the Department assumes the tasks required would necessitate additional staff time. Therefore anticipating that the fiscal impact could amount to anywhere between $10,000 and $100,000 per year. Nonetheless, this projection is highly contingent on the extent of regulations and decisions made, as well as how mitigation is defined.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Administrative Services, Department of Environmental Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and Fish and Game Department