The House Public Works and Highways committee voted to refer House Bill 561 to interim study after committee members said the proposal warrants broader review with municipal participation.

HB 561, as described in the committee session, would require the State of New Hampshire to seek approval from municipal legislative bodies before transferring state-owned Class 1 or Class 2 highways to local control. Committee members said the bill touches on funding and maintenance responsibilities that intersect with the DOT’s 10-year plan and municipal budgets.

Representative Boyd, speaking at the work session, asked colleagues to support an interim study so municipalities could be part of a larger conversation about how the state funds and manages roads. Boyd said the bill “brings forth an interesting concept” that is tangentially impacted by the 10-year plan and that municipalities should partner with DOT on road funding. Representative Bohm and Representative Cloutier both voiced support for interim study; Bohm cited a desire to understand current practices for classifying and transferring roads, noting examples where some roads are state-maintained in some towns but not in others and describing a Litchfield road with split winter/summer maintenance responsibilities. Representative Cloutier suggested the committee’s study commission and additional outreach should produce a recommendation by next year.

In the executive session, Representative Boyd moved to refer HB 561 to interim study and Representative Cloutier seconded the motion. The clerk called the roll; the clerk reported the result as 16 in the affirmative, none in the negative, and two absent. The clerk announced: “By a vote of 16 in the affirmative, none in the negative 2 absent, house bill 561 is affirmed for interim study.”

No final transfers, formulas for municipal reimbursement, or funding changes were adopted; the committee’s formal action was limited to referring HB 561 to interim study. Members indicated follow-up work could include site visits (Representative Cloutier said he wanted to see Continental Boulevard and meet with residents) and coordination with existing study commissions investigating highway and turnpike funding.

Votes at a glance: Motion to refer HB 561 to interim study — moved by Representative Boyd; seconded by Representative Cloutier; result: approved (16–0–2, two absent).