Senate Finance backs HB 165 to raise maximum municipal disaster grant to $100,000

Representative Judy Aaron told the Senate Finance Committee she introduced House Bill 165 to restore the original $100,000 maximum award available to municipalities under a state disaster-relief statute. Aaron said language enacted in a prior session lowered the cap to $25,000 during a committee-of-conference compromise and that the smaller amount does not provide meaningful relief to many small towns after flooding or other natural disasters.

Aaron cited repeated flooding events in her district, including damage from July 2021 and July 2023, and said some towns still struggle to repair roads and infrastructure. She argued $25,000 often does not cover temporary repairs such as culverts or road work and that a $100,000 cap would give municipalities more useful flexibility after an event.

Senators asked technical and fiscal questions. One senator noted the account balance shown in the committee materials ($45,292) and asked whether a single $100,000 award could exhaust the fund. Aaron and other witnesses explained that the fiscal committee retains discretion to approve awards and that unappropriated funds could be considered if necessary. Committee members also asked about the fund—s original funding source; Aaron suggested Homeland Security and Emergency Management could provide details and recommended Director Buxton as a source.

Senator Pearl and others said raising the statutory cap creates the option to award more when needed and preserves oversight by the fiscal committee. Senator Waters and other members expressed concern that $25,000 had become inadequate in the face of inflation and recent disasters. The committee moved into executive session to consider the bill.

When the committee returned it voted to advance HB 165. The committee recorded a voice vote and the chair stated the ayes had it; the transcript records the result as 6-0 in favor.

Aaron supplied further context about the small New Hampshire towns affected by flooding, noting one community with a tax base of about 850 residents and 55 miles of road, which she said lacks capacity to absorb unexpected disaster costs without rapid state support.

After discussion the committee voted "ought to pass" and placed the bill on consent. The committee closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items.