HB 1777 — relative to the enhanced 911 system fund.

Summary

relative to the enhanced 911 system fund.

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

Compared against the N.H. Revised Statutes Annotated as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill restricts the use of Enhanced 911 system funds to only those expenses that directly support 911 operations and introduces enforcement mechanisms for unauthorized use.

• RSA 106-H:9

  II. → II.(a) Moneys in the enhanced fund system shall be used solely for expenditures that directly support the delivery of 911 voice and data information from the point of origin to the public safety answering point (PSAP), and from the PSAP to dispatch centers and first responders. Allowable uses include, but are not limited to: (1) Operational expenses of PSAPs; (2) Acquisition, maintenance, and operation of land mobile radio systems and any communication systems utilized by the division in connection with 911 operations; (3) Technology and support services necessary for the transmission, routing, and processing of 911 calls; and (4) Personnel costs directly supporting 911 operations, including but not limited to call-taking, dispatch, technical support, and operational coordination. (b) Prohibited uses of the fund shall include, but are not limited to: (1) Subsidization of commercial wireless infrastructure not directly supporting 911 services; (2) General public safety expenditures unrelated to 911 operations; (3) Administrative overhead not directly tied to 911 service delivery; and (4) Expenditures for multi-purpose or shared-use systems where the primary or proportional use does not support 911 operations, or where such expenditures would result in a material diversion of funds from core 911 functions. (c) The department of safety shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to maintain and update a list of allowable and prohibited uses of the enhanced 911 system fund. (d) The department shall maintain a separate accounting of all revenues collected and expenditures made from the enhanced 911 system fund. Such accounting shall be sufficient to allow for independent audit and public reporting of fund activity.

  This change specifies that the Enhanced 911 system fund can only be used for expenses that directly support 911 operations.

• RSA 106-H:9

  106-H:9-b Prohibition on Unauthorized Use of E911 Funds. I. No funds from the enhanced 911 system shall be expended for any purpose not authorized under RSA 106-H:9, II. II. Any agency or department found to have used E911 funds for purposes not authorized under state or federal law shall, upon notification, repay the diverted amount from an appropriate funding source within one year. If repayment is not made within the specified time frame, the agency or department may be subject to monetary penalties or forfeitures, as determined by the department of justice, taking into account the amount diverted, the nature of the violation, and whether it was willful or repeated. No criminal penalties involving incarceration shall apply under this section.

  This addition establishes a new section that prohibits unauthorized use of E911 funds and sets penalties for misuse.

• RSA 106-H:14

  II(e) Notwithstanding paragraph I, the department of safety shall disclose financial records, accounting data, and other fund administration information related to the enhanced 911 system fund. Disclosures shall be limited to the minimum information necessary to fulfill the audit or oversight function and shall remain confidential except as required for public reporting of audit findings or as otherwise provided in this subparagraph.

  This addition requires the department of safety to disclose certain fund administration information while maintaining confidentiality regarding sensitive data.

• RSA 106-H:3

  V. Members shall have the following powers and duties: (a) To review the results of independent audits of the enhanced 911 system fund and evaluate compliance with this chapter; (b) To issue recommendations or corrective action plans to any agency, department or subdivision thereof found to have used monies for unauthorized purposes; (c) To refer to the New Hampshire department of justice any instance of willful or repeated unauthorized use of fund monies that has not been remedies within the time period established under RSA 106-H:9-b;

  This addition empowers the enhanced 911 commission to oversee the fund's use and take corrective actions against unauthorized usage.

Action History

1. August 20, 2026

   Died on Table, Session ended 08/19/2026 HJ 16

2. February 19, 2026

   Lay HB1777 on Table (Rep. Vose): MA DV 217-122 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 106

3. February 11, 2026

   Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass

4. February 11, 2026

   Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/09/2026 (Vote 12-5; RC) HC 7 P. 39

5. February 05, 2026

   Executive Session: 02/09/2026 03:00 pm GP 229

6. January 29, 2026

   Public Hearing: 02/02/2026 01:00 pm GP 229

7. December 17, 2025

   Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 35

Sponsors

• Mary Hakken-Phillips · Primary

Subjects