[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6340015,"mediaKeyId","2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c","parentId",2260373,"title","Senate amendment would add $400,000 for species reviews and $2 million to cover Fish and Game pay increases","audioSeconds",275,"startMs",472000,"endMs",747000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c&start=472&end=747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c/thumbnail_472000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340015/New-Hampshire/Senate-amendment-would-add-400000-for-species-reviews-and-2-million-to-cover-Fish-and-Game-pay-increases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340015-24a7725140706e944d3a5f92d8ea8ad9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172495&Signature=Qa4B9gPljXI837eY8jRZIeQSNrurEZ2R0jCjGSbjhRDQLKuGC-j8xsBADpsWQmQkXnyM7JeQXk~tla~-wiqCLFFvQn8kzngl4tc7Nj2LfvWcnd2SNHHQbcBB1YKf0Phvnkx-yBJ4KVV3FoAfFN~5zLT6rgN46lZ8qbHymirFifOJaem2de5hoHYOMlmNYX5DJVfx6x4bWvZ0~-9L9MQeRAcjuyRL2jBkfZMmTPAAmPbY~q0opDecmMiPFVYyNr-kY1Tv~nL2Zcx28KOyjAsLL~akW-GaYe58V3tP0qocerDenhoBsl2VuFoYD4po3vpRMdU88xZIKc-tunaPOP5FMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Senate","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","Senator David Waters, District 4, introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 239 that would add $400,000 to pay for environmental reviews tied to threatened and endangered species and $2,000,000 to cover deficits created when previously authorized salary increases were not continued in subsequent budgets.

The amendment’s $400,000 item is intended to cover environmental review work performed by the Department of Environmental Services and Fish and Game, Senator Waters said; the $2 million is aimed at addressing a funding shortfall tied to salary increases the Fish and Game Department received as part of a prior budget.

Colonel Jordan, representing the Fish and Game Department, told the committee the agency struggles year to year with maintaining staffing and that the department had expected continuing general fund support for a pay raise that the governor initially funded. “When the raises were originally given… Governor Sununu… gave us general fund money to cover those expenses,” Jordan said, and the department had been told the support would be recurring. Jordan said the department tried to use unrestricted Fish and Game fund balances to cover the current year but likely cannot sustain that approach without additional funding.

Mr. Sullivan, who said he was appearing to represent the environmental review portion of the amendment, offered to answer questions about the environmental-review need.

Meredith Hatfield of The Nature Conservancy and Matt Leahy of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests both testified in support of the amendment, describing Fish and Game’s work as central to wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation in the state. Hatfield said the Nature Conservancy “strongly support[s] Fish and Game and the many really important duties that they perform,” and offered to work on a legislative or budget solution. Leahy said the amendment would help the department “carry out these responsibilities.”

Senator Rosemarie asked whether the department could cover the prior raises without cuts; Colonel Jordan and others said that, without the additional funding, the department would likely need to cut staff or services, and that the department had already drawn down unrestricted fund balances.

Committee members and witnesses noted the governor’s upcoming budget could include related proposals or reorganization affecting environmental regulation and funding. Senator Waters described the amendment as a placeholder whose details might be adjusted once the governor’s budget is released.

No formal committee vote on the amendment was recorded during this public hearing segment; the committee closed the public hearing after hearing public testimony and moved on to other items.

The hearing transcript shows supporters emphasizing the department’s role in conservation and public access to natural resources, and Fish and Game staff stressing the short-term need to avoid staff cuts if funding is not provided.

Outlook: Senator Waters said he hopes the amendment or similar language can be used when the committee reviews the House budget; committee members asked for further fiscal detail and expected Fish and Game and administration staff to provide additional information when the governor’s budget is available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance (02/11/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Senator David Waters introduced an amendment to Senate Bill 239 to add $400,000 for environmental review of threatened and endangered species and $2 million to cover deficits from previously instituted salary increases for the Fish and Game Department.","taxTitle","Finance, Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29509,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340005,"Sponsor seeks fund to permit Hampton Beach pier; department warns full funding and design typically required before permitting",1096,2230000,3326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c&start=2230&end=3326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c/thumbnail_2230000.jpg","/articles/6340005/New-Hampshire/Sponsor-seeks-fund-to-permit-Hampton-Beach-pier-department-warns-full-funding-and-design-typically-required-before-permitting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340005-50cd6eec5486a3a00d8bae9342bc3041/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172495&Signature=FBexTtP0wzVUgeGtzrdkGgBnKfPiZIKWRLjS~fKyBrtrsw31svAmwdWw~yrqFQplGl~8ZbIqqP~JE2JpxQW9E4PWE69CxBQoCI6VgzxEwn3F3EUeFt-Baf07TrwRHTkVfrRDSpUsUgOGLfqYQnv4qtxEuWxyiQSW3SVSzmpBmRGs-w2tCdqwRyQOAFRvpzATEtFGMzrUsfkZU2uCYxA170Y~8ggqJ~3var9yRq-8MYL6njvlnq31n2CFKViCMBcZrYh4R7ocVuPObdywwawZXmU9z7tk8cj3nz48RudUs0vVpp66eLCIjddT-jGtSOwPKLtZjLZcQpYBCH2KMw9WXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Kevin Raybould introduced Senate Bill 241 to establish the Hampton Beach State Park Pier Fund, a dedicated fund administered by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) to support siting, permitting, design and construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Raybould said the request would initially fund permitting and design (he suggested $2 million for permitting and to spur grant-seeking for construction), and described the pier as accessibility infrastructure for people with disabilities as well as a potential draw for visitors.

Raybould said earlier studies had estimated construction costs as high as $18–24 million but that his request would be limited to permitting and design and rely on grants and donations for construction; he emphasized the pier’s accessibility function rather than commercial uses. He said a shorter pier of about 500 feet would allow people in wheelchairs to go “out approximately about 500 feet out into the water” to fish or experience the ocean.

Brial Wilson (Bridal Wilson), Director of the Division of Parks and Recreation, provided the department’s written testimony and discussed prior feasibility and accessibility studies. Wilson said the division ran a stakeholder process and an accessibility-assessment that identified low-cost improvements and categorized a pier as an “innovative high-cost” project. Wilson said a feasibility study and an accessibility assessment exist and are available to the committee; she advised the committee that, for a project of this scope, full design and a funding plan are typically identified before the department pursues permitting. The division also noted ongoing operating and maintenance costs and the susceptibility of seacoast facilities to winter storms; it emphasized that the proposed appropriation is substantially less than the estimated construction cost in the feasibility study.

Members raised environmental, coastal-storm, and wildlife concerns. Senator Rosemarie and others asked about piping plover nesting and seal haul-out issues; DNCR staff confirmed that piping plovers nest annually in the South Beach area and said a pier in that exposed location would need robust engineering to withstand winter storms and wave action. Senator Waters asked whether the state’s statutory process for sea-level-rise planning and the Science and Technical Advisory Panel’s guidance would affect siting and viability; DNCR acknowledged sea-level-rise and Army Corps of Engineers work in the area and said longevity, maintenance, and funding are material concerns.

Representative Chris Munz of Hampton, testifying from the town’s perspective, said many year-round residents oppose the project, expressing concerns about traffic, parking, proximity to residential properties, plover habitat, and the additional burden on local infrastructure and emergency services. DNCR and the sponsor said design and partnership discussions remain necessary before advancing permitting or construction.

No committee vote on the bill was recorded during the hearing; DNCR offered to provide the feasibility and accessibility-study materials to committee members and recommended further discussion about ownership, operating responsibilities, and funding plans before pursuing design and permitting steps.","Senate Bill 241 would create a Hampton Beach State Park Pier Fund to pay permitting, design and siting costs for a public pier; the sponsor sought an initial appropriation to cover permitting and to leverage grants for construction.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340010,"Senate hearing covers extension of ACEs pilot: $150,000/year sought to sustain child-parent psychotherapy and support Family Resource Centers",237,1066000,1303000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c&start=1066&end=1303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","/articles/6340010/New-Hampshire/Senate-hearing-covers-extension-of-ACEs-pilot-150000year-sought-to-sustain-child-parent-psychotherapy-and-support-Family-Resource-Centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340010-96da7833650efb61a1d808d34c8abf37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172495&Signature=G6B5i3DTq8jNWNuMYI7AdPdA9o1E~EGgRi9mEx5OcWGTxwnAlrYaMsquu6DgwmOxePDe2IzXb9YlIHy5tCDjtA4hYu03v66J5AHnGhnGLEYOJSjJ3HpHeARAukcTuCxeTxv9-fnd3PkFLgMITwkfrH6Qsane3PgAoG1T3J3lwOvSn8zklq7kPhL4mWRaZodvxfN~0ymzm~51OEpcBCvwUghKHxcc~7DNCfgQjnYIptV6NwISwdctyjS4nqdTTvTBo-WYOraCUuGxvQJm8~jjds3~e4wyRHN1Uv~MT4Ymo~kvp8wwHW5cTvbck1bvBpNP1pvjd~aHASvcLfFxPrBFqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator David Lang, prime sponsor of Senate Bill 238, told the committee the bill seeks to extend an adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prevention and treatment pilot that was established by 2022’s Senate Bill 444 and set to end July 1, 2025. Lang said supporters are seeking $150,000 per year for 2026 and 2027 to sustain training and workforce development for Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) services.

Dr. Cassie Ackley and Deli Champagne of the Center for Trauma Responsive Practice Change testified in support and described CPP as an evidence-based therapy for caregivers with children aged 0–6. Ackley said CPP has served more than 1,000 children in New Hampshire since the program began, and that CPP “has a gold standard, evidence based, for reducing child maltreatment by 65 percent,” and that CPP also reduces caregiver depression and trauma symptoms. Champagne and other witnesses urged continued funding to maintain clinician training and staff development.

Sam Hawkins of NAMI New Hampshire testified that early intervention saves higher-cost care and interactions with the justice system and that investing in community resources is likely to be cost-effective for the state. Jenny O’Higgins, legislative liaison for behavioral health at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), said the fiscal note worksheet was based on the bill as written and that the department would need to re-run its analysis if the committee adopts an amendment changing the funding request. She confirmed that CPP has been implemented since the 2022 law and that the pilot funds for CPP and Family Resource Centers (FRCs) expire June 30, 2025.

O’Higgins and DHHS staff provided utilization numbers: CPP has been provided to at least 724 child-caregiver dyads since 2020, with 242 dyads in 2024 alone. DHHS staff said FRCs have used prior funding to reach more than 7,000 families statewide and that 14 of 16 FRCs have achieved a quality designation; two are working toward it. DHHS representatives said the FRC facilitating-organization contract and direct contracts with FRCs would continue work if funded; DHHS requested a technical fix so allocations could flow directly to FRCs rather than routing through a facilitating organization contract that does not allow subcontracting.

Senator Lang and committee members discussed inconsistencies in the bill’s fiscal note; Lang said an amendment to reflect the actual funding request would be submitted. Committee members asked for more data on outcomes, utilization, geographic distribution of services, and details about how prior appropriations were spent. DHHS representatives said the prior appropriations had been used and would expire on June 30, 2025 unless renewed.

No committee vote on the bill or an amendment was recorded during this hearing segment; proponents and DHHS agreed more precise fiscal language and reporting detail would be provided to the committee.

Outlook: Supporters urged continuation of the pilot and training funds to maintain statewide capacity for an evidence-based therapy for very young children; DHHS and the bill sponsor said an amendment to clarify funding amounts and allocation flow would be filed for the committee’s consideration.","Senate Bill 238 would extend a 2022 pilot that funds Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Family Resource Centers; proponents asked for $150,000 per year for CPP training and infrastructure and described outcomes and utilization figures from the pilot.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339996,"Votes at a glance: Senate Finance executive session outcomes and recorded tallies",33,5296000,5329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c&start=5296&end=5329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c/thumbnail_5296000.jpg","/articles/6339996/New-Hampshire/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-Finance-executive-session-outcomes-and-recorded-tallies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339996-7e3dacae5e445a162212f067a579e170/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172495&Signature=FFppSE-wU~1--z0Yx9qmkf0ftJAJKcFjlAZBuGNIm1C5v-EhT33wxZk1XzDweVZjLzFRbwkikm-FuctoQRztzdyBruwVQPgfu6cDb8XAFolTkwNP72CK5INsDX2EwejcxUrMiJVhcgi752mn9xE4hFJaP6gKnRwZ1K0xVReFqovGeGTD86U7sQlGYmPTGrfndQrW2dd4jurkjMFtmSMuRHDQSmcKqKiGaB~FhLOEeTRRSTqvvdrtKz7t2xCc5i2OmB5Y2zEJojNTII4ab6GQt84RjxAggXHLWDFWJW9Q-SajV8frGBXrD0YxTDO4goI5iyQ7umVlixQBHUAwHr9hGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee moved to executive session and considered multiple bills and amendments. The hearing transcript records several formal motions, roll-call outcomes, and procedural dispositions. The following items were recorded in the committee’s executive session as shown in the transcript:

- Senate Bill 114: Motion to recommend Ought to Pass (OTP) was moved by Senator Rosenwald and seconded by Senator Lang; the committee voice vote returned “Aye” and the chair announced “the ayes have it.” A recorded tally later in the transcript lists “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 to nothing” (6–0) in favor of the motion as recorded by the clerk.

- An amendment (identified in the transcript as adding a non-lapsing sentence to a section) was adopted by voice vote and recorded with the committee announcing the ayes; the transcript shows the action passed.

- Senate Bill 115: A motion described in the transcript as “move to Washington” was made and seconded (move recorded by Senator Buerzo and seconded by Senator Lang). The transcript records the motion and further committee processing but does not record a numeric roll-call tally in the public excerpts.

- Multiple amendments and bills that followed were acted on in executive session with voice votes recorded; the transcript includes recorded voice outcomes (for example, “Aye,” “The ayes have it”) and several explicit voice tallies for amendments (for example, “6 to 0” and “5–1” tallies are recorded in the public transcript when the chair called for the vote). The transcript indicates some bills were tabled or withdrawn by sponsors for further work; in other cases sponsors agreed to take bills out of committee for additional amendment work.

The committee used the tabled motion and non-consent procedures for several items; in multiple cases sponsors were instructed to work with committee members to prepare amendments and return with technical fixes or funding clarifications. The transcript does not include a fully itemized roll-call for every bill listed in the executive session portion; where numeric tallies are recorded in the transcript, those tallies are reproduced here.

Because the transcript records both voice votes and some numeric tallies, the committee’s final floor or referral dispositions for many bills may be listed later in official minutes or the Senate clerk’s record; this summary reflects only the actions and tallies explicitly recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.","During its executive session the Senate Finance Committee recorded several formal outcomes on bills and amendments; the transcript records motions, roll-call tallies for select items, and committee decisions to table or carry votes forward for later action.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6340000,"Hearing on COLA for Group 2 retirees draws support from firefighters but budget cost and unfunded liability questions remain",132,2543000,2675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c&start=2543&end=2675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260373-73610a64100e2b7b20a95fe7818f800c/thumbnail_2543000.jpg","/articles/6340000/New-Hampshire/Hearing-on-COLA-for-Group-2-retirees-draws-support-from-firefighters-but-budget-cost-and-unfunded-liability-questions-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340000-3c556682f0adbea93838057ba877d1e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172495&Signature=HWloTXeF2fz8rku3CEDKk-h3SzqaPsSFE1murzHr9KiR6sJmns7xPqlUmxVhwlMZ~EhW-aiK0m1-Nl3d3k4-F~qzNVN5ufA1~pAbLpMDYGREWUv6CPg~shmydJg3C7L3n4aJKrROQsYyS2bzfGX0eVefHlTUb7uycUCqjaFYqRICFMxLwp1a2B~FxLXERPz5WIymLbTLbKmsYCrRltXQ446aLcAW7bdIzqV5S7sVOJCzGr6Z-rG-9tOCa8wrjTpPapLvtx-XSXrVaFKeG5lNM7ed4IOayWSmz2FF2XyhkUE3WbUPNpDoN7R-JPBoQasFvl6f2xYtsaM-6cmPppfCLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 242, presented by Senator Regina Bartzell on behalf of Senator Bill Gannon, would establish a 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired Group 2 members or beneficiaries, paid on the first $50,000 of a retired allowance and funded from the state general fund. Bartzell noted the sponsor’s concern about the proposal’s estimated present-value cost to the retirement system.

Representatives of retired and active firefighters and police testified in support. Arthur Beaudry, a retired Manchester Fire Department captain and past trustee of the New Hampshire Retirement System, urged the committee to grant a COLA to long-serving Group 2 retirees, outlining the legislative history of COLA funding and the elimination of the special account that had previously funded cost-of-living increases. Beaudry said that while Group 1 retirees (many of whom receive Social Security) have received relief in the form of a $500 stipend and earlier COLAs, Group 2 police and firefighters—who generally do not receive Social Security—have received substantially less adjustment and have seen purchasing power erode during long stretches of inflation. Beaudry cited the system’s historical transfers and the elimination of the special account and noted retirees received a 1.5% COLA in 2010 but few increases since.

Mark Kavanaugh, deputy counsel and chief compliance officer for the New Hampshire Retirement System, said the system takes no position on policy and pointed out there is another COLA bill in the House that covers both Group 1 and Group 2 members; he cautioned the committee about passing overlapping proposals. Kavanaugh and other staff explained the difference between an ongoing COLA (which changes base benefits and affects present-value calculations) and one-time supplemental payments, and noted that the $98 million (cited in sponsor remarks) is the present-value cost of a plan paid from the general fund (actuarial present-value figures). Committee members asked how a COLA would affect the retirement system’s unfunded liability; witnesses said the retirement system’s unfunded liability is approximately $5 billion and that actuarial mechanisms exist to amortize funding changes.

Supporters from the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire and other groups emphasized retirees’ continued contribution to local economies, paying property taxes and buying goods and services. Testimony also included illustrative numbers comparing how a $30,000 pension would have tracked with CPI increases versus current pension indexation.

No committee vote on the bill was recorded in the public-hearing segment. Committee members asked for additional fiscal context and noted competing budget priorities; some members suggested waiting for the governor’s budget or other fiscal materials before taking action.","Senate Bill 242 would grant a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on the first $50,000 of retirement allowances for Group 2 members; firefighting organizations urged passage, but committee members and retirement-system staff highlighted a large present-value cost and interplay with the system's unfunded actuarial accrued liability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate amendment would add $400,000 for species reviews and $2 million to cover Fish and Game pay increases

Sponsor seeks fund to permit Hampton Beach pier; department warns full funding and design typically required before permitting

Senate hearing covers extension of ACEs pilot: $150,000/year sought to sustain child-parent psychotherapy and support Family Resource Centers

Votes at a glance: Senate Finance executive session outcomes and recorded tallies

Hearing on COLA for Group 2 retirees draws support from firefighters but budget cost and unfunded liability questions remain