Jason Randall

Rep. Gregory Hill, Chair House Committee on Legislative Administration NH State House of Representatives Legislative Office Building, Rm 203 Concord, NH 03301 Submitted: Via Committee Email RE: Concerns regarding HB 314 relative to prohibiting the use of federal, state, or local funds for lobbying activities. Dear Chair Hill and committee members, The Plymouth Village Water & Sewer District (PVWSD) is a municipality and local government serving over 1,100 water and sewer connections in Plymouth, NH. The PVWSD Opposes HB 314 as written. After reviewing HB 314, this bill would limit the rights of the majority of voters to authorize funds to advocate for federal and state funding partnerships at the local level. These funding partnerships are what makes water and wastewater infrastructure projects affordable for our ratepayers. For example, 2025 HB 97 relative to an appropriation to the NH Dept. of Environmental Services for State Aid Grant Funding. Local governments and municipalities are in strong support of HB 97 and utilize the advocacy expertise and assistance of member supported non-profit water and wastewater associations who provide lobbyists on their behalf. Without public money supporting these advocacy efforts, our citizens may not have a voice and may not in turn receive financial assistance in the form of a grant (obligated by RSA 486) to offset local capital infrastructure investments. In addition to funding issues there are detailed and intricate connections in many water related bills such as housing, business, health, finance, communication, economic development, defense and security, emergency services, solid waste sanitation, energy, food and agriculture, transportation, and natural resources that could have unintended consequences unless all sides of the issues are presented to the legislators through public supported professional lobbying activities. The circular water economy touches almost everything that we as a society do on a daily basis and is essential for life. The citizens that have a minority voice on a topic, local budget line item, or who don't vote at all can still go to Concord individually or in groups or hire a lobbyist with private funds to represent their position on a bill. It is surely a slippery slope when any individual or entity representing the public is prohibited from offering information relative to a bill that could potentially become a law. Law is made by lawmakers who deserve to hear or read all sides of an issue by professionals, constituents, and individuals. In the case of HB 314, it is not who speaks to the legislators that matters most, it is who is NOT ALLOWED to speak to the legislators that is extremely concerning. The people trust House and Senate legislators and committees to make decisions based on all of the facts that are put before them on every bill, facts which are presented in writing and oral testimony, facts which have to go before the full House and Senate for a vote of approval, and facts that ultimately are approved by the Governor, and facts that have to endure a balanced political scrutiny. Lastly, this bill would allow professional lobbyists representing private entities and State agencies to testify and influence legislators on bills but deny the local governments, municipalities and ultimately the ratepayers the right to hire lobbyists to speak on their behalf. The ratepayers decide at the local level budget process whether to appropriate their money for a hired lobbyist or not. HB 314 as proposed takes away the power of the people, NH citizens, who are constitutionally protected. The PVWSD respectfully requests that you Oppose HB 314. This bill inhibits local and municipal governments to carry out mandates set forth by their voters to provide advocacy for legislation that is either in the best interest or not in the best interest of the people within our community. Sincerely, Jason Randall, Director of Operations Plymouth Village Water & Sewer District Plymouth, NH