SB 348-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2851

08/10

SENATE BILL 348-FN-A

AN ACT relative to emergency crop relief.  

SPONSORS: Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Ward, Dist 8; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Rep. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13

COMMITTEE: Finance

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ANALYSIS

This bill makes an appropriation to the department of agriculture, markets, and food to distribute emergency relief to farmers who suffered crop damage in the unseasonable cold and floods.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2851

08/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT relative to emergency crop relief.  

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

1 Appropriation; Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food; Emergency Crop Relief and Operations Program. The sum of $8,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 is hereby appropriated to the department of agriculture, markets, and food for the purpose of providing one-time emergency assistance to agricultural operations that experienced significant crop loss due to frosts, freezes, or significant weather-related events between January 1 and July 30 of 2023, as established and implemented in section 2 of this act. The department may further define which frosts, freezes, or significant weather-related events are eligible for relief in their guidance. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated or any federal funds that can be used for this purpose.  

2 Emergency Crop Relief and Operations Program Established.

I.  The department of agriculture, markets, and food is hereby authorized to establish guidance within 30 days and an application process within 45 days of the effective date of this act. The guidance for this program shall not be subject to rulemaking requirements under RSA 541-A. The department shall include the following minimum criteria for applicants of the program:  

(a)  Shall be principally located in New Hampshire;  

(b)  The events for which relief is sought must have occurred within New Hampshire’s borders;

(c)  Have been in operation since at least January 1, 2022;

(d)  Experienced a loss of gross receipts from 2022 to 2023;

(e)  Experienced a minimum of 30 percentage total planted acreage crop loss from one or more of the 2023 weather events, as defined by the department;

(f)  Have total 2022 gross receipts of at least $30,000; and

(g)  Have not permanently closed or currently in bankruptcy;

II.  The awards under the emergency crop relief and operations program shall have the following requirements:  

(a)  No entity shall receive more than 50 percent of gross losses or $500,000, whichever is lower;

(b)  The award amount shall be calculated on a pro-rated basis for eligible applicants;

(c)  The award amount shall be reduced by any grants, forgivable loans, or similar relief from other entities for similar purposes received by the applicant.

III.  Nothing in this act shall prohibit the department of agriculture, markets, and food from adopting requirements and conditions beyond the minimum requirements specified in paragraphs I and II.

IV.  All moneys shall be expended by June 30, 2025.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

LBA

24-2851

12/4/23

SB 348-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to emergency crop relief.  

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

METHODOLOGY:

This bill makes an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food to distribute emergency relief to farmers who suffered crop damage as a result of unseasonable cold and floods between January 1, 2023 and July 30,2023.

The Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food makes the following assumptions concerning the fiscal impact of this bill:

• All funds will be paid out by June 30,2025. Crop losses which were not known until after July 30, 2023 would be eligible for funding, if the losses were attributable to weather events which occurred prior to August 1, 2023.

• The legislation will be signed into law prior to June 30, 2024, in order for the appropriation to be available.  (Note: May need to consider adding language for the funds not to lapse until June 30, 2025.)

• The bill does not provide funding or authorization for part-time staff or to contract  services.  The bill will require a reallocation of human resources for an unknown period of time which may result in other work of the Department being delayed.
• Based on 2017 census data, up to 250 farms may be eligible for this program.  Losses to these farms will be in excess of $20 million. (UNH Cooperative Extension survey data and assuming a 75% response. USDA surveys in NH are estimated to be 62%.)

• Prior to deductions, this level of funding may provide for payments of up to 40% of crop losses.

It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2024.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food