This bill establishes a new grant program for local river management advisory committees, which will be administered by the Department of Environmental Services. The program, outlined in the newly inserted section 483:8-b of RSA 483, allows these committees to submit funding requests of up to $10,000 to support their duties as defined in RSA 483:8-a. The funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to those committees that demonstrate a need for resources to fulfill their responsibilities.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $40,000 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, specifically for the distribution of these grants. The governor is authorized to draw from the treasury to cover these appropriations. The bill does not create new positions within the state government, and the Department of Environmental Services anticipates that the administration of the grant program will require minimal additional staff support, which can be managed with existing resources. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.