[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6633491,"mediaKeyId","2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5","parentId",2664318,"title","Committee approves DES/DNCR/Fish & Game position shuffle; questions on ARPA-funded hires and implementation timing","audioSeconds",182,"startMs",1271000,"endMs",1453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5&start=1271&end=1453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5/thumbnail_1271000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633491/New-Hampshire/Committee-approves-DESDNCRFish-Game-position-shuffle-questions-on-ARPA-funded-hires-and-implementation-timing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633491-07b212f6c0e3a543ea11f8cbad1fc5bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162680&Signature=LpsYj~E2NqwxQT9blxiSKCKuBLN7nVJi0I~UYMOMa0R1PMG3U-1HEkZNoLy7uc1ROZGYtQVQg2LXzy1lJoY80jL3CYiCEFmH~lqRiwi1lphLJdJ0qfBycvKQFZAQgKlejE9pzFPkeC6TXC4HtSUhIAiILzCIP8YmNUj9k69F6~w2dLv8fsYWhTyPkJw2Lu7LJ9gjwoWifC8bJUq6Nk15HnoTGwokH4nnKTJOs86ht5RMg-~rsU6aBqJLVJ2LaE677U6KmP3sJ2tLdNCGASWc-wgljcysWNlJDuEchf0~sSZhyQXUxhKeCy58i~fvlqI3HNGKAkOx8-oqMotXMBGP9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-17T20:46:01.937Z","article","The committee accepted a package of HB1 staffing adjustments that shuffle permitting positions among the Department of Environmental Services (DES), Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) and Fish & Game.

Fiscal staff summarized the package: three positions would move from DES back to DNCR, one position from DNCR to DES, and one Fish & Game position requested in the governor's budget would be moved back to Fish & Game after discussions between DES and Fish & Game.

\"If you look on page 3 ... the first item on there moves 3 positions from DES back to DNCR, and 1 position from DNCR to DES,\" Melissa said. She noted the moves were largely a cleanup of position numbers and alignment with agency needs. On the Fish & Game position, Melissa said DES requested that one Fish & Game position be returned, while one Fish & Game position remains in DES \"and will be funded with general funds if you approve DES's budget.\"

Several lawmakers raised that some positions had been funded with ARPA money and that agencies previously told fiscal committees that ARPA-funded positions were temporary, not intended to be permanent. \"All these Fish and Game positions were hired with ARPA funds,\" the Chair said; some members suggested this may argue against making them permanent. DES asked for a footnote so the position carried forward with general-fund appropriation only after ARPA expires on Dec. 1.

Why it matters

Changing which agency carries a position affects which division controls the work and whether general funds must pick up costs when ARPA or other temporary funds expire. Committee members asked for clear footnotes in HB1 to reflect the transition and for DES to confirm necessary start dates so staff can begin work by July 1 if needed.

Next steps

Committee staff will add a footnote to HB1 for the Fish & Game position remaining in DES to reflect that ARPA funds cover the position through Dec. 1 and general funds would be needed for the remainder of the biennium. DES agreed to clarify that the requested position must take effect July 1 to meet permitting workload needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Finance Division I (03/17/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Finance Division I accepted HB1 line items that move permitting positions between DES, DNCR and Fish & Game, including returning one Fish & Game position. Members pressed DES on whether positions funded with ARPA were intended to be temporary and asked for footnote language clarifying funding through December 1.","taxTitle","Finance - Division I, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17750,"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},6633496,"Committee weighs HB2 bail language, magistrate pay and next steps after House action",231,328000,559000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5&start=328&end=559","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5/thumbnail_328000.jpg","/articles/6633496/New-Hampshire/Committee-weighs-HB2-bail-language-magistrate-pay-and-next-steps-after-House-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633496-0e2e22fb2cefd96a1d735b9419be8a58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162680&Signature=h~H764oyb-F9G8-c~yhig-fRvG0Rk9g9SDjgUK3leLq98vF9vPNSJyrPfQSMrqde3yla71BQ1FNHo6aB-C1v7l7SySZJbcARpW8YHH6OXkZgyyZuRRhyk9-27vXn0a8dFBEri6bpTHkJmV5AVGCMsrLVboYkp7BCvaXBENjyr1ZbYemhUnJcnMqC3LUCBe77o32Jz2KQzf-lQd20KeDYi4cN6Tpzozy1OmV~ZmrlP1erQuEblKAs9fAgTSgFrVv~5vS9ZUkbjanYGaQNzoTnudfbzhzljVolitiUg9QPP8XxnvfcChClnXfp3x~i518T2h1dDBmQmfsbE8uHa9P-nA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Division I members reviewed bail-related language removed from the HB2 packet after the House passed separate bail legislation, and discussed downstream effects on bail commissioners and magistrates.

The committee heard that an amendment (997H) would delete a bail provision because the House already passed a separate bail bill (referred to in committee as HB594). Committee members raised concerns about how magistrates and bail commissioners will be paid and assigned duties if the magisterial positions are deleted without work to do.

\"The other thing is the part about bail that we did last time was we had ... the judiciary pay the bail commissioners directly and then collect from the others,\" said the Chair. Melissa (fiscal staff) said the judiciary has reported problems collecting the money and the department believes the change may be resulting in a budget hit. Representative Abel said: \"...it appears, at least at first, that they're not as good at collecting as the commissioners were in the first place.\"

Committee members directed staff to prepare an HB1/HB2 amendment that would take effect after the effective date of the House-passed bail bill to give magistrates an assignment so they are not paid without duties. The chair asked staff to check with the judicial branch and the criminal-justice committee and report back.

Why it matters

If pay for magistrates continues after their duties are removed, the state may be paying for positions with no assigned work; the committee is exploring statutory language that would shift duties or otherwise prevent an unfunded, idle workforce. The committee asked DES staff to confirm implementation timelines and asked counsel to confirm whether the proposed amendment would conflict with the House-passed bail bill.

Next steps

Staff will reach out to the judicial branch to clarify when magistrates began being paid under the new mechanism, whether the judiciary has assumed collections permanently, and to draft an HB1/HB2 amendment that becomes effective after the House bill's effective date to assign duties to the magistrates or otherwise address the pay issue.","Members discussed deletion of a bail-related provision in HB2 (related to the House'passed bail bill), the effect on magistrates and bail commissioners, and directed staff to prepare an HB2 amendment to give magistrates duties after the effective date so pay is not wasted.",{"_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},6633502,"Finance Division I: votes at a glance from March 17 meeting",9467,823000,10290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5&start=823&end=10290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2664318-1758396a6af1de8f9f9549755b6831e5/thumbnail_823000.jpg","/articles/6633502/New-Hampshire/Finance-Division-I-votes-at-a-glance-from-March-17-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633502-da7359545ed0e0116dd7e16c450f137d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162680&Signature=HE3G~FNj5sJByn8yDVwQefahS1CQGvzBRyZvHYRKoO-J9E-0Pe201exX9LkhHPFmR8rmJFIP1vTsXbuOidx1FHCA8Xj6U0-UN2zqR3U62nI~gan75WCGY3DoETQpu4hhZzXi~5zG5x-LWqIbbvMKoO8lP0xt7NssT6mQ6bm2HNShUZVHtfYxVouchzFgoa-8QbojOjcw6J9GODR-88TZKT27Tmfrqtfjkj31xgkND-iITbivMmfIuexY9q1eHpCxVip1L6CfrlyqPssPwc1inRRx1DpY0F0hl-gGVW7S1mpr6FW19ZsfqfThqWXa~L7KeJkqe1RTTaBSWkMtA1sCZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Finance Division I met March 17 and took votes on a range of bills and amendments affecting judicial pay, agency positions, permitting rules, fees and small boards. Several technical and procedural amendments were adopted unanimously; other policy changes produced split votes.

Actions and outcomes

- Amendment 997H (remove section 1 as duplicative of House Bill 592 / bail language): Motion by Representative Sweeney; second by Representative Ambrose. Outcome: passed unanimously (committee voice vote reported as unanimous).

- HB1 staffing package for Department of Environmental Services and Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (moves of permitting positions between DES, DNCR and Fish & Game): Motion carried (committee voice vote reported as unanimous).

- Sections 2–8 of HB2 (permitting-related sections and three DES-supplied amendments 1002, 976, 922): Motion by Representative Campbell, second by Representative Griffin. Outcome: passed unanimously (voice vote reported as unanimous).

- Amendment to suspend Commission on Aging (repeal): Motion passed 5–4 (division vote recorded in transcript as 5 in favor, 4 opposed).

- Repeal of Office of the Child Advocate (and related statutory cleanups): Motion passed 5–4 (division vote recorded in transcript as 5 in favor, 4 opposed).

- Housing Appeals Board amendment (sunset / 60-day wrap-up, with two unclassified employees retained through term and possible judiciary placement): Outcome: passed, 6–2 (division vote recorded as 6 in favor, 2 opposed).

- Suspension of BEA promotional marketing allocation (meals & rooms-derived line): Motion passed 5–4 (division vote recorded as 5 in favor, 4 opposed).

- Inclusion of House Bill 60 language (termination at end of lease/tenancy) into HB2 via amendment 0824H: Motion carried 6–2 (division vote recorded in transcript as 6 in favor, 2 opposed).

Other amendments reported as adopted unanimously included an OPLC/inspection language fix (Amendment 1020H) and several ministerial HB1/HB2 technical cleanups; the committee deferred final action on several fee items pending additional fiscal data or rule clarification.

Why it matters

The committee's votes affect statutory language (HB2/HB1 packages), agency staffing and where program costs will fall (general fund vs. fee-funded accounts). Unanimous votes mostly covered technical and scheduling cleanups; the narrower division votes reflect policy trade-offs where members weighed budget savings against service, oversight or market impacts.

What's next

Committee staff will circulate updated language and fiscal notes where requested; DES and other agencies were asked to return with additional data on fee counts, implementation timing and grant-program details. Several items (notably the solid-waste surcharge and permitting fee technicals) will be revisited when more detailed fiscal modeling or rule timelines are available.","The committee approved amendment packages and several department staffing and fee items, and voted on multiple standalone amendments. Major roll-call tallies included several unanimous procedural approvals and several close 5–4 or 6–2 policy votes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves DES/DNCR/Fish & Game position shuffle; questions on ARPA-funded hires and implementation timing

Committee weighs HB2 bail language, magistrate pay and next steps after House action

Finance Division I: votes at a glance from March 17 meeting