HB 392-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0058
09/08
HOUSE BILL 392-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4; Rep. Corcoran, Hills. 28; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Sabourin, Rock. 30; Rep. Terry, Belk. 7; Rep. Warden, Hills. 39
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office of health equity, department of environmental services' functions for civil rights and environmental justice, and the governor's advisory council on diversity and inclusion.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0058
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Directive; Governor; Governor's Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion. The governor is hereby directed to dissolve the governor's advisory council on diversity and inclusion, and is prohibited from re-establishing this council.
2 Directive; Department of Health and Human Services; Office of Health Equity. The department of health and human services is hereby directed to dissolve the office of health equity, and is prohibited from re-establishing this office or using any allocated monies for any project labeled as "health equity."
3 Directive; Department of Environmental Services; Civil Rights and Environmental Justice Programs. The department of environmental services is herby prohibited from the use of any allocated monies for those projects labeled "civil rights and environmental justice."
4 Compensation of Certain State Officers; Salaries Established; Position Deleted. Amend RSA 94:1-a, I(b) by deleting the following:
FF Department of health and human services director of the office of health equity
5 Repeal. RSA 126-A:88, I(hh), relative to the director of the office of health equity membership on the state health assessment and state health improvement plan advisory council is repealed.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
25-0058
1/2/25
HB 392-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $100,000 decrease in general funds; Indeterminable decrease in federal funds | $100,000 decrease in general funds; Indeterminable decrease in federal funds | $100,000 decrease in general funds; Indeterminable decrease in federal funds | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund, Federal Funds | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to dissolve the Office of Health Equity, and deletes that Office's unclassified director from state statute. In addition, the bill prevents the Department from using funds from any project identified as "health equity," and prevents the Department of Environmental Services from using funds for any project labeled "civil rights and environmental justice." The Department of Health and Human Services states that salary and benefits for the director of health equity total approximately $169,000 per year, and are paid for with 59 percent state general funds and 41 percent federal funds. This aspect of the bill would therefore result in savings of approximately $100,000 per year of general funds and $69,000 per year of federal funds. The Department further notes that the Office currently manages approximately $4.6 million per year in federal grants and another $700,000 in other federal funds. It is unclear if all such funds, or only a portion, would no longer be administered as a result of the bill.
The Department of Environmental Services states the bill could impact receipt of federal funds, in that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires recipients of federal funding to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as multiple other federal mandates. The Department states that it receives between $80 - $90 million annually in federal funding that requires compliance with Title IV. It is unclear what percentage of this will be impacted by the bill.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Environmental Services and Health and Human Services
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 5, 2025 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/05/2025 09:30 am LOB 210-211
Jan. 10, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 3