HB 1088 — transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.

CHAPTER 290 HB 1088-FN-A - VERSIONFINAL ADOPTEDVERSION BY BOTH BODIES 04/09/2026 1268s 4Jun2026...

CHAPTER 290 HB 1088-FN-A - VERSIONFINAL ADOPTEDVERSION BY BOTH BODIES 04/09/2026 1268s 4Jun2026...

1290:1 New Subparagraph;

Amend RSA 6:12,I6:12, (b)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:4-482-B:4-a. a.

2290:2 New Section;

3290:3 Fees;

4290:4 Enforcement and Penalties;

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.482- B:4-a.

5290:5 Effective Date.

LBAApproved: 26-2535 4/14/26 HB 1088-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1268s) AN ACT transferring funding for the water well board from the general fund to a special nonlapsing fund.

FISCALJuly IMPACT:10, 2026 Effective Date:

EstimatedJanuary State01, Impact FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 ($121,300) ($242,600) ($242,600) GF GF GF Revenue $0 $121,300 $242,600 $242,600 WWBF WWBF WWBF Revenue Fund(s) General Fund and Water Well Board Fund (WWBF) ($103,141) ($103,141) GF GF Expenditures* $0 $0 $103,141 $103,141 WWBF 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 and is effective January 1, 2027.

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 effective January 1, 2027.

The total estimated revenue to the new fund in FY is approximately $242,600, reflecting the Board’s revised fee structure and the consolidation of prior General Fund revenue.

The position, which is currently funded through the General Fund, will instead be supported by the Water Well Board Fund.

Due to the effective date occurring midway through FY 2027, it is assumed there will be no change to General Fund expenditures in FY 2027.

Revenue collected in FY 2027 is assumed to be deposited into the General Fund during the first half of the year and into the Water Well Board Fund during the second half of the year.

Beginning in FY 2028 and continuing thereafter, the position is assumed to be fully funded by the Water Well Board Fund, resulting in a reduction in General Fund expenditures, and all associated revenue is assumed to be deposited into the Water Well Board Fund, resulting in a reduction in General Fund revenue.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Environmental Services