Revision: March 18, 2026, 11:09 a.m.
Senate Finance
March 18, 2026
2026-1223s
08/05
Amendment to SB 541-FN-A
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to capital appropriations for regional drinking water infrastructure.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Capital Improvements; Department of Environmental Services. 2025, 159:1, V is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
V. Department of Environmental Services.
1. Dam Repairs and Reconstruction 10,810,000
2. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund State Match 8,846,360
3. Superfund State Match 829,217
4. Clean Water State Revolving Fund State Match 9,467,496
5. Winnipesaukee River Basin Program Infrastructure Upgrades 19,700,000
Less Other Funds (Revolving Loan Fund)* (19,700,000)
Net State 0
6. Southern NH Regional Water Interconnection Project, Phase 2B ** 10,000,000
Total state appropriation paragraph V $39,953,073
*To provide funds for the appropriations made in paragraph V, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $19,700,000 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 on the bonds and notes shall be made from the Winnipesaukee river basin control account established in RSA 485-A:50.
**To provide funds for the appropriations made in section 6 of Paragraph V, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state $10,000,000 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. $5,000,000 of the $10,000,000 for the Southern NH Regional Water Interconnection Project, 2B shall only be bonded once an additional $10,000,000 for the project is secured from another funding source, including but not limited to a loan from the drinking water groundwater trust fund. The commissioner of the department of environmental services shall certify to the state treasurer when the funding is secured. Any federal funds received after January 1, 2026, for the Southern NH Regional Water Interconnection Project, 2B shall supplant any or all of the $10,000,000 appropriation to the extent allowable under state and federal requirements.
2 Capital Appropriations; Funds Adjusted; 2026. Amend the total state appropriation of section 1 on the line following 159:1, XVII to read as follows:
Total state appropriation section 1 [$137,678,945] $142,678,945.
3 Bonds Authorized; Funds Adjusted; 2026. Amend RSA 2025, 159:7 to read as follows:
159:7 Bonds Authorized. To provide funds for the total of the appropriations of state funds made in sections 1 and 2 of this act, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $171,060,895 and for said purposes may issue bonds and notes in the names and on behalf of the state of New Hampshire in accordance with the provisions of RSA 6-A. The sources of funds are as follows: General Fund [$137,678,945] $142,678,945, Highway Funds $10,000,000, and Other Funds $23,381,950.
4 Project Amended; Department of Environmental Services. Amend 2020, 30:6 to read as follows:
30:6 Capital Appropriation; Department of Environmental Services. The sum of $50,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of environmental services for capital expenditures for the remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the state’s drinking water sources and wastewater residuals, which expenditures may include loans to public or private entities on such terms and conditions as the department of environmental services shall determine. Of the amounts appropriated, $5,000,000 shall be used for the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Interconnection Project, Phase 2B. To provide funds for the appropriation made in this section, the state treasurer is hereby authorized to borrow upon the credit of the state not exceeding the sum of $50,000,000 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 6-13-e. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 9:18, the appropriation made in this section shall not lapse.
5 Appropriation; Department of Environmental Services; Pipe, Water Filtration and Well Upgrades; Pillsbury Lake Village District. Amend 2025, 141:380 to read as follows:
141:380 Appropriation; Department of Environmental Services; Pipe, Water Filtration, and Well Upgrades; Pillsbury Lake Village District. The sum of $325,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, is appropriated to the department of environmental services to the Pillsbury Lake Village District for the purpose of addressing [loan] costs associated with the following upgrades:
I. Piping Upgrades: $155,000 to cover a loan used for upgrading the pipes under Concord Drive in Webster.
II. Water Filtration Upgrade: $105,000 to cover a loan for upgrading the water filtration system.
III. [New Well Development] Water System Improvements: $65,000 to cover [a loan for digging a new well, known as the Franklin-Pierce well, which requires less processing and will reduce overall costs] water system improvements as agreed upon by both the department of environmental services and Pillsbury Lake Village District.
The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
2026-1223s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Makes an appropriation to the department of environmental services to fund regional drinking water infrastructure.
II. Makes an appropriation to the department of environmental services to the Pillsbury Lake Village District for the purpose of addressing loan costs associated with certain water system upgrades.
III. Amends the definition of drinking water standard and requires a share of moneys appropriated to the department of environmental services in 2020 to be used for the Southern New Hampshire Regional Water Interconnection Project.