[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6627102,"mediaKeyId","2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f","parentId",2730341,"title","Subcommittee votes to abolish positions and shift overtime budgets in Department of Corrections","audioSeconds",2763,"startMs",6607000,"endMs",9370000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f&start=6607&end=9370","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f/thumbnail_6607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6627102/New-Hampshire/Subcommittee-votes-to-abolish-positions-and-shift-overtime-budgets-in-Department-of-Corrections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627102-4a976bf09dab724e4d06d7d346b42326/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137501&Signature=Aedyl54GyhQ8puc-IfL0yOJ~fxDUwHd5L0NkZWDcbAa820hk7f6A7cdMdhv11TlM8VgjHzYsNItl~37NjHb65k1Qwt2iVIaL5o-qcbct7GfDFPDPb9gEcqtTFHSeSAd9mxSCeXr-OmOOBTiRUFgiDrfbeLrJ5j3j6ww2d6Q5OXFs8qGmboQ2EErPUHTO-l1ywCV0McvNl53bDiF21jS7JRArPWHhv4Tb3wl8ZG6eeX5HQ9W32vptyDfgeDDHS0uuF4RR3QG5ZiCja05oH1uoVeg31nmgCjWMAMm1gbpjiQt2FVfc2En6WNJuiN8gYklaIFTQxZW4ocZMEtRrZX6O2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-21T20:38:41.367Z","article","The House Finance subcommittee voted to abolish a bundle of funded positions in the Department of Corrections and to reallocate part of the savings into overtime to reflect current staffing practices.

The package targeted positions the committee described as funded but unfilled and selected payroll lines where staffing had expanded despite a drop in the inmate population over the past decade. Committee materials and discussion noted that the corrections population had fallen from roughly 2,700 inmates a decade ago to about 2,000 today while overall staffing and budgets had grown in non-corrections-officer areas.

The chair moved the package of position abolishments and corresponding overtime adjustments. Members debated the proposal at length. Supporters argued the state previously managed larger inmate populations with fewer staff and that the proposal targeted administrative and program positions outside core custody roles. Opponents said the committee should hear the corrections commissioner before approving layoffs and raised concerns about forced overtime and effects on staff morale and family life.

The committee recorded the vote on the position-abolishment/overtime package as 5 in favor and 4 opposed. Committee members subsequently approved a separate Commissioner Hanks technical reallocation (a no-cost transfer of line items) unanimously.

Lawmakers said they will continue to request implementation details from corrections leadership, noting that some position lines reflect programmatic requirements or litigation-driven changes in past years. Committee members who opposed the cuts asked that the department be given an opportunity to explain operational impacts before the budget is finalized in later stages.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Finance Division I (03/21/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The subcommittee approved abolition of multiple funded positions at the Department of Corrections and moved money into overtime accounts; members said the change aligns staffing with a smaller inmate population but several lawmakers urged the department be consulted before final action.","taxTitle","Public Works and Highways, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17759,"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},6627106,"Subcommittee preserves Hampton Beach commission law but makes duties subject to available funds",95,1835000,1930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f&start=1835&end=1930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f/thumbnail_1835000.jpg","/articles/6627106/New-Hampshire/Subcommittee-preserves-Hampton-Beach-commission-law-but-makes-duties-subject-to-available-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627106-45f995a3b02dd5a1e3d5282e3a84347b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137501&Signature=j9nHvfxXkGYI-X~Jn1m0VoVBUt~4Uj3TlrVviAxkPTp5fMpBUJ~RXQWA-ht040APCrfhxE5B9kmSrUdI~aZDnXwC8aIlULy31VzqVG1v-iImxnfRomM~5nmERQTsdV0vffW6SxnTOkTU68exinVo~M98OXSkez4Z3w6Gi9zUp3HQXo~tH36~CkRxef~fxKpTX5DBGvVCe2-GqhIbOqLepSP3wnP2XbgifcUXjnNYmlcSFwJ~AgDkcbiaxbKv-RaH9C9dW2v~~CuKPRRqJaZwF~MJDFI8w0TzQhUz2DZ7IZJE6vnVTufjw0cCh~bozQ~f795qjRSe-~Yd6E-WonIRww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The subcommittee approved an amendment that leaves the Hampton Beach Area Commission in statute but changes its required duties to be performed \"subject to available funds.\" The change was offered after the commission\u0000chair -- former Representative Emmerich -- told lawmakers the commission had operated for decades without a statutory appropriation.

Representative Campbells moved the change to HB 2 (amendment 11-83-H) and Representative Griffin seconded the motion. Supporters said the amendment allows the commission to continue its duties but gives the commission discretion when state funds are not provided. \"If you're not going to give me money, take away make it so my functions are optional,\" the commission chair told the committee, according to members who discussed the conversation.

A motion to adopt amendment 11-83-H passed on a recorded count of 8 in favor and 1 opposed. Committee members said the change preserves the statute while acknowledging funding constraints for an entity that had, until now, relied on volunteer support and small donations.

Lawmakers said the change leaves open the option for future appropriations, and the committee recorded the vote as 8-1 in favor of the amendment.","Lawmakers voted to keep the enabling statute for the Hampton Beach Area Commission but to make the commission's required duties \"subject to available funds,\" after the commission said it had operated without an appropriation for 25 years.",{"_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},6627111,"Judicial branch: committee adds funds for Judicial Council; approves fee changes and a back-of-budget cut",1311,1331000,2642000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f&start=1331&end=2642","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f/thumbnail_1331000.jpg","/articles/6627111/New-Hampshire/Judicial-branch-committee-adds-funds-for-Judicial-Council-approves-fee-changes-and-a-back-of-budget-cut","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627111-6fe2a11255462a1ef0bbef4eeb39b366/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137501&Signature=nhAtE7bMfoDKX06YpNqpjXjobt50rcEGWNb7-w7k76R4JbrKVEKdnfl8eBJnmvxJfdp9cnBRlLEMs6dlTzTNDmAfauNB9a1uo8RvMvyDea~1EyeMSdFThtI4b3kCMjxJCOsmWL3iGPjmar5OuZzlK5MCZ0neNkSHz2lWPfrCmo8~-2nXBnb-4WTrJoeVW3UTYIfPVjxKKFz0daffWs2f20m6oo50vviN1IdIoZWwGQrtWSp8kB7E-dLspmugmP8vUPaov0fu37yApuosbY1mUndwuzXGLwcJJhIdU8E7idysCV~5lfXdDl~XITUags7VmaGrX5EFx3Cs~t4FK9fkxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A House subcommittee unanimously approved an amended Judicial Council allocation after lawmakers were told a likely clerical discrepancy left the public defender program underfunded by roughly $1.77 million.

Representative Ebel and Judicial Council representatives told the subcommittee that the governor\u0000's proposed HB 1 figures did not incorporate all HB 2 and HB 1 funding sources when calculating the intended increase for public defenders, creating a shortfall. \"I really wanna bring the committee's attention to that discrepancy because it's a large discrepancy for the public defender moving forward,\" a Judicial Council representative said, noting the shortfall could increase more costly assigned-counsel expenditures if not addressed. That representative added the shortfall was approximately $1,770,000.

After discussion, the subcommittee agreed to add about $1,792,796 to fiscal 2027 and to insert a footnote asking the Judicial Council to use a portion of funds to reestablish a clinical program with Franklin Pierce University that had previously used ARPA funds. The motion to add the funds and the footnote was seconded and approved unanimously.

Separately, the committee considered broader judicial-branch changes. Members approved an amendment (12-45-H) that increased the back-of-the-budget cut to the judicial branch; the subcommittee recorded that amendment as passing on a 5-4 tally. Committee staff said the package combined a statutory-cut approach with certain fee increases that the judicial branch will set by rule. The subcommittee also voted to remove a $25 surcharge from statute and shift it into rulemaking authority; that specific change and a set of judicial fee increases were approved unanimously, and staff said the fee changes will be reflected as new general fund revenue when implemented.

Committee members said the Judicial Council funding addition aimed to avoid costlier assigned-counsel spending by preserving public defender capacity. Lawmakers and Judicial Council staff also discussed the use of a small clinical program that had cleared hundreds of cases when run with ARPA funding and recommended that the program be continued if possible.

The subcommittee recorded the vote on the Judicial Council funding and footnote as unanimous; the judicial-branch back-of-budget cut passed 5-4; the surcharge removal and fee increases passed unanimously.","Lawmakers moved funding changes for the Judicial Council after staff flagged an apparent shortfall in the governor\u0000's budget for the public defender program, agreed to add approximately $1.79 million and a footnote for a clinical program, and separately approved a package of fee shifts and a back-of-the-budget reduction to the judicial branch.",{"_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},6627115,"House amendment moves Renewable Energy Fund dollars to general fund; members debate amounts",360,503000,863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f&start=503&end=863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730341-c5507e924dda69108345f5c87dbb063f/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6627115/New-Hampshire/House-amendment-moves-Renewable-Energy-Fund-dollars-to-general-fund-members-debate-amounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6627115-83bca1f39bda707ce535a4efc6e58d04/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137501&Signature=hUK9DRaKcuGz0vNjP6fo~2eetuiQ6YDpz2wyd9lcDkqr~S5J8RRrCN8kKRNOzHnzhr4XgdJy5QqdDyCOnIe2R7rCsn6Sh0J3aJblsrl-V5IxMbZY3No5KF-rRw9qoxEiMPvatRyDU4ncXpb3rAHtXh~yHUC8YuCSbpCxUNHtMgsMJLNte4HSKQfxSvqeGQVAlhKNbTg4s9Ve~f~GYDL8JjcI0s2kUpsD~8aClC3zoXGKmStiaGAjw7~FtS4rXxDTf0FGFf4SIVE~C-NaaN8fsGL~sWRX9Q2-5Egi6ufrRWbuDGXNRtezZjzhJbe9r70mPt5H~oTrUYjaCvCMhrEfiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A House subcommittee voted to adopt amendment 12-11-H to House Bill 2, changing how money in the Renewable Energy Fund is handled and temporarily redirecting some revenue to the general fund.

The amendment, moved by Representative Griffin and seconded by Representative Campbells, implements language consistent with House Bill 111 by transferring the current biennium balance from the Renewable Energy Fund into the general fund and postponing a return of certain payments to ratepayers until after the biennium. \"We\u0000are still working with Department of Energy to calculate a number,\" a staff member said, estimating the current-biennium balance at \"somewhere between 13 and $20,000,000.\" The staff member also said the amendment would reroute roughly $5,000,000 a year for 2026 and 2027 that otherwise would flow to ratepayers.

Committee members pressed staff for detail about what the bill calls \"incentive payments.\" A staff member explained there is question about the phrase and that language on page 2 of the packet removes a reference to \"incentive payments,\" leaving a transfer to the general fund \"just net of administration costs and funding for the office of offshore wind industry development and energy innovation.\" Committee discussion included review of how the House-passed energy bill handled the revenue and whether the amendment reflected that intent.

Representative Griffin moved the amendment on the floor of the subcommittee; after discussion, members voted and the amendment passed on a 5-4 voice tally.

Lawmakers said the amendment is intended to match intent in earlier legislation while leaving specific definitions for department-level implementation. Staff indicated remaining details would be worked across chambers when HB 2 crosses to the Senate.

The subcommittee recorded the vote on amendment 12-11-H as 5 in favor and 4 opposed.","A House amendment to HB 2 would transfer Renewable Energy Fund balances for the current biennium into the general fund and change the flow of some future biennia funds; lawmakers debated estimated amounts and language clarifying \"incentive payments.\"","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee votes to abolish positions and shift overtime budgets in Department of Corrections

Subcommittee preserves Hampton Beach commission law but makes duties subject to available funds

Judicial branch: committee adds funds for Judicial Council; approves fee changes and a back-of-budget cut

House amendment moves Renewable Energy Fund dollars to general fund; members debate amounts