Senate capital work session tentatively shifts funds: $5M added for Southern New Hampshire water project; CTE and tramway amendments discussed

During a marathon Senate capital budget work session, committee members reviewed agency requests across several departments and agreed to several tentative adjustments to the House‑passed capital package (House Bill 25).

The committee agreed in principle to include a $5,000,000 capital appropriation in the environmental services portion of the bill for work on the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Interconnection Project, while acknowledging that the overall project financing includes other components (including a separate proposal in House Bill 2 and potential Groundwater Trust funds). Committee staff and members said the proposed $5 million is only part of the project’s funding picture and that additional conversations with Representative Boyd and the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund subcommittee are appropriate to align grants, loans and timing.

Lawmakers also discussed a set of targeted Career and Technical Education (CTE) equipment requests totaling roughly $323,001 as a placeholder for immediate, lower‑cost needs at several regional CTE centers—items senators described as equipment purchases for marine trades, culinary, construction, heavy‑equipment simulation and similar pathways. Some members urged a systemwide prioritization run by the Department of Education; others supported placing a small amount in the capital bill now to meet immediate employer demand. A senator suggested convening the Commissioner of Education and the director of adult education/CTE to confirm immediate needs and avoid perceived favoritism among districts.

The Natural and Cultural Resources discussion included the state park tramway at Cannon Mountain on the list of high‑priority items. Committee members reviewed earlier appropriations and said the department is working on structural and engineering analysis of concrete support pillars; bids previously received placed the full project cost in the low‑to‑mid tens of millions (one figure cited was about $33,000,000). The department requested shifting smaller previously appropriated amounts into the tramway project and said it would provide additional information on concrete analysis and vendor availability.

Committee staff and members also flagged several agency requests they said were acceptable as presented, struck a $350,000 appropriation for a department backhoe pending further information and left a $1 placeholder or dollar entry in sessions where the committee used placeholders while it considered larger renovations (for instance, Milford CTE work). The committee scheduled follow‑up briefings and directed departments to return with more detailed cost, site or implementation information where needed.

At midmeeting the committee voted by voice to enter executive session to consider amendments and reconvened later to resume public proceedings. Senators indicated they will prepare a consolidated set of amendments to House Bill 25 for the next work session.

The committee did not take roll‑call votes on final appropriations during the session; members said they expect further tweaks before floor action.