HB 1088-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2535
08/05
HOUSE BILL 1088-FN-A
AN ACT transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
SPONSORS: Rep. Donnelly, Rock. 25
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill transfers funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
This bill is a request of the department of environmental services.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2535
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraph; Water Well Board Fund. Amend RSA 6:12,I (b) by inserting after subparagraph (410) the following new subparagraph:
(411) Moneys deposited in the water well board fund as established in RSA 482-B:4-a.
2 New Section; Water Well Board Fund. Amend RSA 482-B by inserting after section 3 the following new section:
482-B:4-a Water Well Board Fund. The New Hampshire water well board fund is established as a special fund in the state treasury. The fund shall be revolving, continually appropriated and nonlapsing. All fees, fines and civil penalties collected as provided in this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury immediately upon collection and credited to the water well board fund. The state treasurer shall invest the moneys deposited in accordance with RSA 6:8. Any earnings on fund moneys shall be added to the fund. The water well board fund shall be used to fund water well board duties as outlined in this chapter.
3 Fees; New Hampshire Water Well Board. Amend RSA 284-B:14 to read as follows:
482-B:14 Fees.
Fees received under this chapter shall be paid over to the state treasurer and deposited in the [general fund] water well board fund established in RSA 482-B:4-a.
4 Enforcement and Penalties; New Hampshire Water Well Board. Amend RSA 482-B:16, VI to read as follows:
VI. All moneys collected under this section shall be forwarded to the state treasurer and deposited into the [general fund as unrestricted revenue] water well board fund established in RSA 482-B:4-a.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
26-2535
11/6/25
HB 1088-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
| ||||||
Estimated State Impact | |||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | |||
Revenue | $0 | ($242,600) GF | ($242,600) GF | ($242,600) GF | |||
$242,600 WWBF | $242,600 WWBF | $242,600 WWBF | |||||
Revenue Fund(s) | General Fund and Water Well Board Fund (WWBF) | ||||||
Expenditures* | $0 | ($103,141) GF | ($103,141) GF | ($103,141) GF | |||
$103,141 WWBF | $103,141 WWBF | $103,141 WWBF | |||||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund and Water Well Board Fund (WWBF) | ||||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |||
Funding Source(s) | None | ||||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | |||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes the Water Well Board Fund as a special, nonlapsing, continually appropriated fund in the state treasury. All fees, fines, and civil penalties collected under RSA 482-B would be deposited into this fund rather than the General Fund. The fund would be used to support the operations and duties of the Water Well Board.
The Department of Environmental Services states the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules recently approved a rule allowing the Water Well Board to charge a $100 fee for each well completion report filed. Based on an average of 2,426 well completion reports submitted annually, the fee is expected to generate approximately $242,600 in annual revenue beginning July 1, 2026 (FY 2027).
Currently, annual fee collections total approximately $43,480 and are deposited into the General Fund. In addition, one full-time position (#18464) that administers the Water Well Board is funded by the General Fund at an annual cost of $103,141 in FY 2027.
Under this bill, all Water Well Board-related revenues including the existing $43,480 and the new fee revenue will be deposited into the newly created Water Well Board Fund rather than the General Fund. The total estimated revenue to the new fund in FY 2027 is approximately $242,600, reflecting the Board’s revised fee structure and the consolidation of prior General Fund revenue. The position currently funded through the General Fund will also be paid from the Water Well Board Fund.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 14, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
Jan. 16, 2026: Executive Session: 01/14/2026 10:45 am GP 228
Jan. 9, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 10:45 am GP 228
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development