Bill Text: NH HB404 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relative to a local option for liquefied natural gas storage facility sitings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted DV 289-48 03/14/2019 House Journal 9 P. 33 [HB404 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2019-HB404-Introduced.html

HB 404 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2019 SESSION

19-0457

06/03

 

HOUSE BILL 404

 

AN ACT relative to a local option for liquefied natural gas storage facility sitings.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Vallone, Rock. 9; Rep. Berrien, Rock. 18; Rep. McConnell, Rock. 11; Rep. DiLorenzo, Rock. 17; Rep. Ward, Rock. 28; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 40; Rep. Andrew Bouldin, Hills. 12; Rep. Muscatel, Graf. 12; Sen. Dietsch, Dist 9; Sen. Levesque, Dist 12

 

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill permits a town to vote on whether or not to site a liquified natural gas storage facility in the town.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19-0457

06/03

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT relative to a local option for liquefied natural gas storage facility sitings.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Subdivision; Liquified Natural Gas Storage Facility Siting.  Amend RSA 31 by inserting after section 109 the following new subdivision:

Liquified Natural Gas Storage Facility Siting

31:109-a  Local Option for Siting Liquified Natural Gas Storage Facility in Towns.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no liquified natural gas storage facility shall be located in any town unless the town approves it as follows:

I.  The governing body may approve a site plan for a liquified natural gas storage facility by a 2/3 majority vote.

II.  The governing body may place the question of whether or not to approve the location of a liquified natural gas storage facility in such town on the ballot to be voted upon at any regular municipal or biennial election, or at a special election called for the purpose of voting on such question.  The special election shall be held at the usual polling places by the regular election officers.  Should a referendum be held, the following question shall be placed on the ballot:  "Shall a liquified natural gas storage facility be permitted within the town of ( )?" Said question shall be printed in the form prescribed by RSA 656:13.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote in the affirmative, then approval shall be deemed granted and the governing body shall be bound by the outcome.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote in the negative, approval shall be deemed not granted and no liquified natural gas storage facility may be located in the town unless approval is subsequently granted in accordance with this paragraph or paragraph III.

III.  Upon submission to the governing body of a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the registered voters of the town requesting a referendum on the question of whether or not a liquified natural gas storage facility should be located in said town, the governing body shall direct that the question appear on the ballot at the next regular municipal or biennial election.  If such petition is submitted at any time prior to 2 months before the next regular municipal or biennial election, the governing body shall direct that a special election be called.  The election procedure and the form of the question shall be as provided in paragraph II.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote in the affirmative, then approval shall be deemed granted and the governing body shall be bound by the outcome.  If a majority of those voting on the question vote in the negative, approval shall be deemed not granted and no liquified natural gas storage facility may be located in the town unless approval is subsequently granted in accordance with this paragraph or paragraph II.

IV.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as changing, modifying, or affecting in any way the provisions of RSA 674 relating to zoning regulations.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

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