Text to be removed highlighted in red.
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 Program. Amend RSA 216-F by inserting after section 7 the following new sections:
216-F:8 Rail Trail Pilot Program.
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. The duration of the program shall be 4 years from the effective date of this section.
III. 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 Program Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the rail trails program fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails, to be expended by them for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and improvement of 83 miles of rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails across four routes identified in section 1 of this act by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails. Additionally, the bureau shall credit to this fund any private contributions designated for the purpose of the maintenance of rail trails.
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 for direct trail work under the New Hampshire bureau of trails. These funds shall not be used for staffing or to fund the emergency trail repair fund. The New Hampshire department of transportation may access the emergency trail repair fund by submitting a formal request through the bureau of trails.
4 Appropriation.
I. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the bureau of trails the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the designated purposes of the rail trails program fund, as stated in RSA 216-F:9. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
II. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the bureau of trails the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the designated purposes of the emergency trail repair fund, as stated in RSA 216-F:10. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 New Subparagraphs; Application of Receipts; Rail Trails Program Fund and Emergency Trail Repair Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraphs:
(400) Moneys deposited in the rail trails program fund as established in RSA 216-F:9.
(401) Moneys deposited in the emergency trail repair fund as established in RSA 216:F-10.
6 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 Program. Amend RSA 216-F by inserting after section 7 the following new sections:
216-F:8 Rail Trail Pilot Program.
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. The duration of the program shall be 4 years from the effective date of this section.
III. 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 Program Fund. There is hereby established in the state treasury a continually appropriated and nonlapsing fund to be known as the rail trails program fund which shall be administered by the bureau of trails, to be expended by them for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and improvement of 83 miles of rail corridors and appurtenant rail trails across four routes identified in section 1 of this act by rehabilitating abandoned rail corridors and maintaining already established rail trails. Additionally, the bureau shall credit to this fund any private contributions designated for the purpose of the maintenance of rail trails.
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 for direct trail work under the New Hampshire bureau of trails. These funds shall not be used for staffing or to fund the emergency trail repair fund. The New Hampshire department of transportation may access the emergency trail repair fund by submitting a formal request through the bureau of trails.
4 Appropriation.
I. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the bureau of trails the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $250,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the designated purposes of the rail trails program fund, as stated in RSA 216-F:9. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
II. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund to the bureau of trails the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 and the sum of $1 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the designated purposes of the emergency trail repair fund, as stated in RSA 216-F:10. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 New Subparagraphs; Application of Receipts; Rail Trails Program Fund and Emergency Trail Repair Fund. Amend RSA 6:12, I(b) by inserting after subparagraph (399) the following new subparagraphs:
(400) Moneys deposited in the rail trails program fund as established in RSA 216-F:9.
(401) Moneys deposited in the emergency trail repair fund as established in RSA 216:F-10.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.