Bill Text: NH HB1709 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishing the forest carbon commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-24 - Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/02/2024, Vote 4-0; Senate Calendar 17 [HB1709 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2024-HB1709-Amended.html
HB 1709-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22Feb2024... 0686h
2024 SESSION
24-2613
08/10
HOUSE BILL 1709-FN
AN ACT establishing the forest carbon commission.
SPONSORS: Rep. E. Kelley, Coos 7
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a commission to study the effects of forest carbon programs on local tax revenue.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Feb2024... 0686h 24-2613
08/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT establishing the forest carbon commission.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Forest Carbon Commission. Amend RSA 79 by inserting after section 3-b the following new section:
79:3-c Forest Carbon Commission.
I. There is established a commission to study the effect of forest carbon programs on local tax revenue and the legacy timber industry.
II.(a) Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the members of the commission shall be as follows:
(1) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives:
(A) Two of whom shall be from the resources, recreation, and development committee, one of whom shall be from the majority party and one of whom shall be from the minority party.
(B) One of whom shall be a member of the house ways and means committee.
(C) One of whom shall be at large from the house of representatives.
(2) One member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate.
(3) One representative of the department of revenue administration, appointed by the commissioner of the department of revenue administration.
(4) The New Hampshire state forester or designee.
(5) One representative of the fish and game department, appointed by the executive director of the fish and game department.
(6) The forest industry specialist from the university of New Hampshire, or designee.
(7) The dean of the college of life sciences and agriculture of the university of New Hampshire, or his designee.
(8) One public member of the current use board appointed by the chairman of the current use board.
(9) One assessing official who is a member of the current use board appointed by the chairman of the current use board.
(10) The executive director of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions, or designee.
(11) One public member appointed by the Coos County Commissioners.
(b) Current use board members shall be compensated as described in RSA 79-A:3.
(c) Legislative members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
III. The commission shall study:
(a) The effect of forest carbon programs on local and state tax revenue.
(b) Possible alternative revenue sources for towns that account for net impact to the local economy.
(c) Impacts to the forest products industry from changes in forest management practices due to enrollment in carbon credit programs.
(d) The trends of forest carbon programs in New Hampshire.
(e) How forest carbon agreements should be reported to the register of deeds.
(f) Any other effects of forest carbon agreements in New Hampshire including but not limited to impacts to recreation, conservation, and protection of undeveloped land.
IV. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held before July 31, 2025. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall report its findings and, if necessary, any recommended legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the chair of the house resources, recreation, and development committee, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1 of each year.
2 Repeal. RSA 79:3-c, relative to the forest carbon commission, is repealed.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 31, 2025.
24-2613
Amended 2/27/24
HB 1709-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2024-0686h)
AN ACT establishing the forest carbon commission.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ X ] None
METHODOLOGY:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant states this bill, as amended by the House, has no fiscal impact on state, county and local expenditures or revenue.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
None
