HB 569 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
13Mar2025... 0561h
2025 SESSION
25-0271
02/09
HOUSE BILL 569
AN ACT relative to the establishment of county-wide communication districts.
SPONSORS: Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Preece, Hills. 17; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. Wall, Straf. 11; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Municipal and County Government
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows counties to initiate the establishment of county-wide communications districts.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
13Mar2025... 0561h 25-0271
02/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to the establishment of county-wide communication districts.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Communications Districts; Definitions. Amend RSA 53-G:1, II to read as follows:
II. "District" means a communications district of 2 or more municipalities, or one county, established under this chapter.
2 Definitions. Amend RSA 53-G:1, VII to read as follows:
VII. "Member" means any city, town, unincorporated town, [or] unorganized place, or county that elects to form or join a communications district under this chapter.
3 Communications District Planning Committee; Formation and Responsibilities. Amend RSA 53-G:2, I to read as follows:
I. The governing bodies of 2 or more municipalities, or the governing body of a county, may at their discretion create a special unpaid committee to be known as a communications district planning committee, consisting of at least 2 persons from each municipality appointed by the respective governing bodies. Governing bodies of municipalities located within a proposed county-wide district may vote to include themselves in this planning committee. Governing bodies of municipalities may vote to join the proposed communications district at a future time pursuant to RSA 53-G:7. The committee shall elect a chairperson, clerk, and treasurer. Members may be reimbursed by the committee for costs of performing duties directly related to the committee.
4 Communications District Planning Committee. Amend RSA 53-G:2, IV to read as follows:
IV. If the committee determines that the formation of a district is desirable, it shall prepare a proposed district agreement in accordance with RSA 53-G:4 and hold a public information session in each municipality which is named in the district agreement as a site. Copies of the proposed agreement and of RSA 53-G shall be made available at and prior to any hearing. Notice of any hearing shall be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the proposed district or posted on the website of each member municipality and on the county website, if applicable, and posted in one public place in each member municipality, and sent to the governing bodies of participating municipalities.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | 2025-0561h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| March 3, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| March 3, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
March 13, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0561h: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8
March 13, 2025: Amendment # 2025-0561h: AA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8
March 6, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0561h 03/03/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC)
Feb. 27, 2025: Executive Session: 03/03/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/10/2025 09:50 am LOB 301-303
Jan. 16, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 3 P. 16