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Representative Aaron seeks to restore $100,000 municipal disaster grant cap; Homeland Security says rules still in legal review
Summary
Rep. Judy Aaron asked the finance committee to restore a $100,000 cap for state disaster relief grants to municipalities and to clarify statutory language. Homeland Security and Emergency Management said rules for an existing 50% non‑federal match program remain in legal review; the committee voted OTP on HB165 7–0.
Representative Judy Aaron (Sullivan County District 4) urged Finance Division II to raise a statutory cap on municipal disaster grants back to the $100,000 level she said was originally intended before compromise language lowered it to $25,000.
"I'm simply asking with this bill that the original hundred thousand dollar grant amount be reestablished because we all know that $25,000 is hardly disaster relief to any community," Aaron said, citing repeated flooding events affecting small towns since 2021.
Aaron told the committee that prior measures (SB 409 and SB 402) intended to create loan and reimbursement paths for municipalities still were not fully operational, and she urged prompt legislative action to give towns rapid, practical support after natural disasters.
Rob Buxton, director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), told the committee that rules for the 50% non‑federal match (the reimbursement program discussed previously by the Legislature) are still in legal review and will proceed through the rulemaking process (including public hearing) before implementation.
Vote and committee action The committee voted to recommend OTP (Ought to Pass) on HB165. A roll call recorded seven yes votes and no negatives (motion passed 7–0).
Why it matters: Representative Aaron explained that small municipalities often lack the tax base to make quick temporary repairs (for example, municipal bridges or local roads), and a higher statutory cap would allow faster assistance to make roads passable and restore basic services. HSEM noted limited available balances in the identified disaster funds and that available appropriations and non‑lapsing accounts are relevant to implementation timing.
Follow up and funding mechanics Committee members asked how the disaster grant mechanism would be funded. HSEM confirmed the reimbursement rule draft was under legal review and clarified that some dedicated disaster funds had limited balances (the New Hampshire Disaster Relief Fund balance was described in committee as $45,292 as of 06/30/2024). Committee discussion noted that fiscal committee and the full Legislature have mechanisms to move funds when needed, but HSEM and fiscal staff flagged constraints on relying on a dedicated rainy‑day balance and the need to clarify fund carryforward status.
Ending The committee recorded OTP 7–0 and asked departmental staff to continue providing rulemaking updates and clarifications on available funds and implementation windows.
