Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 124 · 2025 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Municipal forest fund surplus transfers

AI-generated

(New Title) enabling a municipal forest committee or conservation commission to offer surplus money to the municipality for deposit in the municipal unreserved fund balance.

Enables a municipal forest committee or conservation commission to determine that a surplus exists in the special forest maintenance fund and offer it to the municipality for deposit into the unreserved fund balance.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill enables a municipal forest committee or conservation commission to determine there is a surplus in the special forest maintenance fund and offer such surplus to the municipality for deposit into the municipal unreserved fund balance.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“For the purposes of establishing or maintaining a city or town forest, a city or town may raise and appropriate such funds as it deems necessary.”
RSA 31:113
“The proceeds from said forest shall be placed in a special forest maintenance fund and shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, unless otherwise voted by the legislative body of such city or town.”
RSA 31:113
“Notwithstanding RSA 31:95-b, if the fund expending authority determines that the special forest maintenance fund has a surplus, such committee or commission may, after a majority vote to do so, offer the surplus to the municipality for deposit in the unreserved fund balance.”
RSA 31:113
“The legislative body of the municipality shall vote to accept the surplus for deposit. 165:2 Effective Date.”
RSA 31:113

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Arnold DavisRPrime
  • Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
  • Rep. Mike OuelletRVice Chair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Also: Rep. David RochefortR, Rep. James TierneyR, Rep. Michael MurphyR, Rep. Sean DurkinR, Rep. Lori KorzenR

Public testimony

13 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

23% support69% oppose8% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This Bill allows towns flexibility in their funding. If one component of the budget has "extra", these should be available voluntarily. There is no downside risk as by definition a "natural" area doesn't warrant upkeep.”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonsupports
“Local natural spaces are a vital contribution to the ecosystem, air and water quality, and standard of living for any area.…”
— Faith Eherts, Nashuaopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 27, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government6:30:36–6:32:372m 1slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government5:30:10–5:34:194m 9slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0861h (NT); Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0861h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0861h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingSenate Election Law and Municipal Affairs2:05:53–2:07:151m 22slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1707s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1707s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1707s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor2:09:57–2:11:281m 31slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1707s (Rep. Pauer) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 6
  2. Feb 27, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/27/2025 03:30 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 10, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 10, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0861h (NT) 03/10/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 17 P. 23
  5. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0861h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 42
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0861h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 42
  7. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 10
  8. Apr 22, 2025SenHearing: 04/22/2025, Room 103, LOB, 09:15 am; SC 18
  9. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1707s, 05/01/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19
  10. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1707s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  11. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1707s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1707s (Rep. Pauer): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 14
  13. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 59
  15. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 165; eff. 09/13/2025 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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