New Hampshire SB 605: relative to special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.

Bill Text

SB 605-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2267

 07/08

SENATE BILL 605-FN

AN ACT relative to special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.

SPONSORS: Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Finance

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

ANALYSIS

 This bill allows political subdivisions 36 months from the date of an invoice to comply with special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2267

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.

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

 1 New Subparagraphs; The State and Its Government; Pooled Risk Management Programs; Standards of Organization and Operation. Amend RSA 5-B:5, I by inserting after subparagraph (g) the following new subparagraphs: 

 (h) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to mean that special assessments be required by statute. 

 (i) If a pooled risk management program's agreement, contractual provisions, or bylaws indicate the right to levy special assessments, political subdivisions shall be assessed at such amounts over the course of 36 months from the date of the invoice for a special assessment request from a pooled risk management program, with equal amounts assessed in each period. 

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

 LBA

 26-2267

 Revised 2/4/26

SB 605-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

Indeterminable Increase $100,000+

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 County Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

METHODOLOGY:

This bill provides political subdivisions with a payment period when a pooled risk management program issues an invoice for a special assessment rather than immediate payment. 

The Department of State indicates that this bill would permit delayed assessment payments, jeopardizing the financial stability of a risk pool already facing fiscal challenges. Such delays could lead to the pool’s insolvency, resulting in unpaid claims that would be denied and shifted to political subdivisions, or in the case of medical coverage, to active or retired employees. Furthermore, insolvency would compel the Secretary of State to incur additional costs for legal, actuarial, and accounting services, estimated at a minimum of $100,000.

The New Hampshire Municipal Association states that the fiscal impact of the 36-month deadline to comply with special assessment requests from pooled risk management programs is indeterminable because there is no definition of "special assessment" and it is unclear if the amount due would be what was originally assessed or if that amount would include interest. 

The New Hampshire Association of Counties states this will have no impact on counties. 

It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2026.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of State, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association