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HB 332 · 2025 · House · Resources, Recreation and Development Committee

Village districts for water cleanup

AI-generated

allowing for the establishment of a village district to protect and remediate surface waters.

Adds protection and remediation of surface water quality to the list of purposes for which a village district may be established under state law.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 13, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill allows for consistent environmental policies for towns that share a body of water.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Rosemarie RungDPrime
  • Rep. Karen EbelDDemocratic Leader Pro Tempore
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services
  • Sen. Ruth WardRDeputy Majority Leader

Also: Rep. Will DarbyD, Rep. Gregory SargentD, Rep. Nancy MurphyD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

149 signed in online · 84 wrote testimony

97% support3% oppose0% neutral

ForUnified governance would improve lake protection

AgainstUnnecessary new government layer; existing oversight suffices

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As president of the Contoocook Lake Area Preservation Association (CLAPA), I am writing on behalf of our organization in support of this bill. CLAPA is a 150-member voluntary association dedicated to preserving and protecting the health and beauty of our lake.…”
— Michael Golibersuch, rindge · Contoocook Lake Area Preservation Association (CLAPA)supports
“This bill will enables multiple municipalities surrounding a lake to form a village district in an area around the lake to protect and restore lake health.…”
— Laura Colcord, Salisburysupports
“I am a resident of Sunapee, NH. Lake Sunapee is vital to the economy of the entire region, yet there are three communities abutting the lake, each with its own regulations regarding management of the watershed.…”
— Michael Jesanis, Sunapeesupports
“A village form of government is unnecessary and adds more cost and taxes. The towns already have the ability to coordinate lake protection without another layer of needless government or additional government personnel and cost. Vote NO”
— Robert Stockton, Newburyopposes
“Just another nanny state intrusion by government to impose on the actual residents who live on the lakes in NH.”
— Richard Fulford, Merrimackopposes
“Dear Members of HRR&D, My family is strongly opposed to HB 332. This same bill (HB 1250) was already debated and failed last year.…”
— Stephen Wolf, New Londonopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-01-2210:00 amHouse Resources, Recreation and DevelopmentLOB 305Public hearing
  • 2025-01-2910:15 amHouse Resources, Recreation and DevelopmentLOB 305Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 2 P. 15
  2. Jan 22, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 305
  3. Jan 29, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/29/2025 10:15 am LOB 305
  4. Jan 29, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 01/29/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 11 P. 12
  5. Feb 4, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  6. Feb 13, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 196-171 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 25

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.