Steven Snelling

My name is Steven J. Snelling, and I am a New Hampshire resident. I respectfully submit this testimony in support of HB 1091. HB 1091 addresses a practical and longstanding problem in the way municipalities respond to individuals who are unhoused. Current local ordinances that impose financial penalties for sleeping or camping outdoors often result in fines that unhoused individuals are unable to pay. In practice, these penalties do not deter behavior, improve public safety, or resolve the underlying circumstances that led to the violation. Instead, they add debt and instability to individuals who already lack financial resources. HB 1091 offers a more constructive and effective alternative by requiring municipalities to provide a non-financial option that may be elected in place of a monetary fine. Such options could include community service, verification of employment, progress toward stable housing, or other non-monetary remedies appropriate to local circumstances. This approach preserves local authority to enforce ordinances while encouraging remedies that are realistic, enforceable, and more likely to result in compliance. From both a fiscal and public policy perspective, non-financial penalties are more sensible than fines that cannot be collected. Court involvement, repeated enforcement actions, and unpaid fines create additional costs for municipalities without producing meaningful outcomes. Providing a constructive alternative reduces administrative burden while promoting accountability in a manner proportionate to an individual’s circumstances. HB 1091 does not excuse violations or eliminate local ordinances. It simply recognizes that financial penalties are not an effective tool when applied to individuals without the means to pay them. By allowing non-financial remedies, the bill promotes dignity, responsibility, and more productive engagement between municipalities and vulnerable residents. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the committee to support HB 1091.