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HB 1027 · 2026 · House · Municipal and County Government Committee

Local approval of conservation commission spending

AI-generated

subjecting appropriations of local conservation commissions to the approval of local governing bodies.

Subjects appropriations made by local conservation commissions to approval by their municipality's governing body before funds may be expended.AI-generated

Status

Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate; died at adjournment · February 24, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill subjects appropriations of local conservation commissions to the approval of local governing bodies.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Because such contributions further the protection of the state's natural resources, they are hereby declared to be a public purpose.”
Section 1
“A town or city, having established a conservation commission as authorized by RSA 36-A:2, may appropriate money as deemed necessary for the purpose of this chapter, subject to the approval of the local governing body as may be required pursuant to RSA 36-A:4 and RSA 36-A:4-a.”
Section 2
“The whole or any part of money so appropriated in any year and any gifts of money received pursuant to RSA 36-A:4 may be placed in a conservation fund and allowed to accumulate from year to year.”
Section 2
“Money may be expended from said fund by the conservation commission for the purposes of this chapter without further approval of the town meeting.”
Section 2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Laurel StavisDPrimeRanking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Jim MaggioreDDeputy Ranking Member· Municipal and County Government
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Rep. Eleana ColbyD, Rep. David FrachtD, Rep. Dylan GermanaD, Rep. Stephanie GrundD

Public testimony

10 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

10% support90% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please do not politicize the workings and decisions of Conservation Commissions in New Hampshire. Conservation Commissions work incredibly hard to administer their missions with utmost professionalism, effectiveness, and thoroughness.…”
— Dawn Quirk, Warneropposes
“Environmental protection should not be subject to shifting political pressures.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchesteropposes

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
  • Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–7
    Overall
    59% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government2:16:36–2:21:154m 39slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Municipal and County Government2:37:47–2:43:355m 48slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Executive Session

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 1 P. 3
  2. Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 11:25 am GP 154
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 09:00 am GP 154
  4. Feb 17, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 10-7; RC) HC 10 P. 104
  5. Feb 24, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0425h

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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