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1 New Section; Transfer of Ownership; Certain Rail Corridors. Amend RSA 21-L by inserting after section 12-e the following new section:
21-L:12-f Transfer of Ownership; Certain Rail Trails.
The commissioner of the department of transportation shall facilitate the expeditious transfer of ownership, rights, and responsibilities of the following rail trails to the department of natural and cultural resources:
I. Presidential, Pondicherry Section.
II. Ammonoosuc Rail Trail.
III. New Littleton-Bethlehem Segment.
IV. Cheshire Rail Trail.
2 New Subparagraph; Rail Trail Ownership. Amend RSA 215-A:3, IV-a by inserting after subparagraph (j) the following new subparagraph:
(k) Perform all duties and responsibilities, as designated by the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources and the director of the division of parks and recreation, related to safety, maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair of rail trails listed in RSA 21-L:12-f.
3 New Sections; Rail Trail Pilot Project. Amend RSA 216-F by inserting after section 7 the following new sections:
216-F:8 Rail Trail Pilot Project.
I. The department of natural and cultural resources, division of parks and recreation, and the bureau of trails shall together develop a pilot program, in consultation with the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition, to be managed by the bureau of trails, to rehabilitate, maintain, and improve 83 miles of 4 rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails.
II. Forty-four percent of project funds shall be from federal grants obtained by regional stakeholder groups, 6 percent shall be from private contributions and funds generated by any fee increase for individual and family hike safe cards under RSA 206:26-bb, and 50 percent shall be from general obligation bonds, all of which shall be deposited into the rail trails project fund established in RSA 216-F:9.
III. The 50 percent of funds from state general obligation bonds shall be used for:
(a) Bureau of trails staffing, equipment, and materials;
(b) Department of fish and game staffing;
(c) Funding of an emergency trail repair fund; and
(d) Ten percent match of federal grant funds referenced in paragraph II of this section.
IV. The duration of the project shall be 4 years from the effective date of this section.
V. The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, director of the division of parks and recreation, and the chief supervisor of the bureau of trails shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A regarding the administration of the rail trail pilot program established in this section.
216-F:9 Rail Trails Project Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the rail trails project fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails. The bureau shall credit private contributions and any appropriated funds for the rail trail pilot project to the fund to be expended for the purposes stated in this section.
216-F:10 Emergency Trail Repair Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the emergency trail repair fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails. The bureau of trails shall expend moneys in the emergency trail repair fund exclusively to repair trail damage occasioned by severe weather or other unforeseen emergencies. The bureau of trails shall transfer $1,000,000 every fiscal year from the rail trails project fund established in RSA 216-F:9 to the emergency trail repair fund.
4 Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated to the bureau of trails for the purpose of section 3 of this act the sum of $3,600,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $3,600,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to be expended by them for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and improvement of 83 miles of rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails across four routes in the state by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails.
5 Bonds Authorized. To provide funds for the appropriation made in section 4 of this act, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $7,200,000 and for said purpose may issue bonds and notes in the name of and on behalf of the state of New Hampshire in accordance with RSA 6-A. Payments of principal and interest shall be made from the general fund of the state.
6 New Subparagraphs; Application of Receipts; Rail Trail Project Fund and Rail Trail Emergency Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraphs:
(400) Moneys deposited in the rail trail project fund as established in RSA 216-F:9.
(401) Moneys deposited in the rail trail emergency fund as established in RSA 216:F-10.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
Text to be added highlighted in green.
1 New Section; Transfer of Ownership; Certain Rail Corridors. Amend RSA 21-L by inserting after section 12-e the following new section:
21-L:12-f Transfer of Ownership; Certain Rail Trails.
The commissioner of the department of transportation shall facilitate the expeditious transfer of ownership, rights, and responsibilities of the following rail trails to the department of natural and cultural resources:
I. Presidential, Pondicherry Section.
II. Ammonoosuc Rail Trail.
III. New Littleton-Bethlehem Segment.
IV. Cheshire Rail Trail.
2 New Subparagraph; Rail Trail Ownership. Amend RSA 215-A:3, IV-a by inserting after subparagraph (j) the following new subparagraph:
(k) Perform all duties and responsibilities, as designated by the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources and the director of the division of parks and recreation, related to safety, maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair of rail trails listed in RSA 21-L:12-f.
3 New Sections; Rail Trail Pilot Project. Amend RSA 216-F by inserting after section 7 the following new sections:
216-F:8 Rail Trail Pilot Project.
I. The department of natural and cultural resources, division of parks and recreation, and the bureau of trails shall together develop a pilot program, in consultation with the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition, to be managed by the bureau of trails, to rehabilitate, maintain, and improve 83 miles of 4 rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails.
II. Forty-four percent of project funds shall be from federal grants obtained by regional stakeholder groups, 6 percent shall be from private contributions and funds generated by any fee increase for individual and family hike safe cards under RSA 206:26-bb, and 50 percent shall be from general obligation bonds, all of which shall be deposited into the rail trails project fund established in RSA 216-F:9.
III. The 50 percent of funds from state general obligation bonds shall be used for:
(a) Bureau of trails staffing, equipment, and materials;
(b) Department of fish and game staffing;
(c) Funding of an emergency trail repair fund; and
(d) Ten percent match of federal grant funds referenced in paragraph II of this section.
IV. The duration of the project shall be 4 years from the effective date of this section.
V. The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, director of the division of parks and recreation, and the chief supervisor of the bureau of trails shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A regarding the administration of the rail trail pilot program established in this section.
216-F:9 Rail Trails Project Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the rail trails project fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails. The bureau shall credit private contributions and any appropriated funds for the rail trail pilot project to the fund to be expended for the purposes stated in this section.
216-F:10 Emergency Trail Repair Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the emergency trail repair fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails. The bureau of trails shall expend moneys in the emergency trail repair fund exclusively to repair trail damage occasioned by severe weather or other unforeseen emergencies. The bureau of trails shall transfer $1,000,000 every fiscal year from the rail trails project fund established in RSA 216-F:9 to the emergency trail repair fund.
4 Appropriation. There is hereby appropriated to the bureau of trails for the purpose of section 3 of this act the sum of $3,600,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $3,600,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to be expended by them for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and improvement of 83 miles of rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails across four routes in the state by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails.
5 Bonds Authorized. To provide funds for the appropriation made in section 4 of this act, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $7,200,000 and for said purpose may issue bonds and notes in the name of and on behalf of the state of New Hampshire in accordance with RSA 6-A. Payments of principal and interest shall be made from the general fund of the state.
6 New Subparagraphs; Application of Receipts; Rail Trail Project Fund and Rail Trail Emergency Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraphs:
(400) Moneys deposited in the rail trail project fund as established in RSA 216-F:9.
(401) Moneys deposited in the rail trail emergency fund as established in RSA 216:F-10.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.