HB 1314-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2309
10/05
HOUSE BILL 1314-FN
AN ACT relative to the comprehensive state development plan.
SPONSORS: Rep. Grassie, Straf. 8; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7; Rep. Germana, Ches. 1; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Rep. Parshall, Ches. 8; Rep. Grote, Rock. 24; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds provisions to the comprehensive state development plan concerning protection of natural resources and identifying environmental threats.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2309
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to the comprehensive state development plan.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Comprehensive State Development Plan; Natural Resources; Environmental Threats. Amend RSA 9-A:1, III to read as follows:
III. The comprehensive development plan shall include:
(a) State policies to provide for the orderly growth and development of the state and to maximize smart growth.
(b) Goals and policies which are relevant to the topical areas included in the plan, including but not limited to:
(1) An overall vision section that serves as the direction for the other sections of the plan. This section shall contain a set of statements which articulates the desires of the public relative to the future. It shall contain a set of guiding principles and priorities to implement that vision, with special emphasis on maximizing the smart growth principles in RSA 9-B.
(2) A land use section which examines the state's role in land development and in funding projects and programs which affect land uses.
(3) A transportation section which considers all pertinent modes of transportation and provides a framework of policies and actions which will provide for a safe and adequate transportation system to serve the needs of the state.
(4) A public facilities section which examines the projected needs of state institutions and coordinates with other governmental units, whether federal, county, local, special districts, or school districts, as to their needs as well.
(5) A housing section which sets forth approaches to meeting the need for affordable housing.
(6) An economic development section which proposes actions and policies to suit the state's economic goals and needs, based on the current and projected economic strengths and weaknesses. The section shall reference the economic development strategy and operating plan and process developed by the division of economic development under RSA 12-O:24 through 12-O:28.
(7) A natural resources section which identifies trends in land protection, open space, drinking water aquifer identification and protection, protection of our lakes, rivers, estuaries, forest, wetlands and shoreline uplands, coastal marshlands, wildlife habitat, and farm land preservation and protection, and proposes policies and actions necessary at the state level to protect those resources which are perceived to be of statewide significance.
(8) A natural hazards section which identifies actions to improve the ability of the state to minimize damages from future disasters that affect land and property subject to such disasters.
(9) A recreation section which assesses current and future recreation needs within the foreseeable future and identifies policies and a plan of action to support them at the state level.
(10) A utility and public service section which details state level policies and actions necessary to assure adequate service to the citizens of the state.
(11) A regional concerns section which describes specific areas of the state with potentially unique concerns and identifies policies and actions which may reasonably be undertaken to assist in addressing those issues.
(12) A section which identifies state policies and actions necessary to protect cultural and historic resources of statewide significance and assist in their rehabilitation or preservation, and generally assure their availability for future generations of state citizens.
(13) An implementation section, which is a long range action program for assessing the effectiveness of each section of the plan.
(14) An environmental threats section which identifies environmental threats from chemical and biological contamination, waste disposal, and inadequate recycling opportunities, in order to address the cumulative effects of natural and man-made contaminants on our air, waters, and land, and to anticipate possible future threats to our natural environment.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2309
11/29/23
HB 1314-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the comprehensive state development plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] N/A | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill amends the Comprehensive State Development Plan (SDP) by enhancing provisions related to safeguarding natural resources and identifying environmental risks. It revises RSA 9-A:1, III (b) as follows:
- amends existing sub-section 7 to include the evaluation of "drinking water aquifer identification and protection, safeguarding lakes, rivers, estuaries, forests, wetlands, shoreline uplands, coastal marshlands, and wildlife habitat" within the natural resources section.
- add a new sub-section 14 focusing on assessing environmental threats. This section aims to identify risks stemming from chemical and biological contamination, waste disposal, and insufficient recycling opportunities. Its purpose is to address the combined impacts of both natural and human-made contaminants on air, water, and land, while also preemptively anticipating potential future threats to the natural environment.
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs states the proposed changes to the SDP will result in an indeterminable increase in the project's overall cost. As the plan necessitates an RFP for a third-party vendor to draft the plan and collaborate with the Department's Office of Planning and Development, this augmentation will demand increased expertise, time, and effort from the vendor resulting in increased State expenditures starting in FY 2025.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Business and Economic Affairs