(New Title) directing the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office ofhealth access and the department of environmental services' functions for environmental justice.
Summary
HB 392 directs the governor to dissolve the Governor’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion and bars the council from being re-established. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to dissolve its Office of Health Equity, prohibits the department from re-establishing that office, and bars the use of allocated monies for projects labeled “health equity.” In addition, the bill prohibits the Department of Environmental Services from using allocated monies for projects labeled “civil rights and environmental justice.”
The bill further amends state law by deleting the statutory reference to the director of the Office of Health Equity from the state salary schedule and repeals a separate provision that tied that office to membership on the state health assessment and state health improvement plan advisory council. The effective date is immediate upon passage, so the changes would take effect as soon as the act becomes law.
Impact
HB 392 would remove or defund several state-level diversity, equity, civil rights, and environmental justice functions within the executive branch. It would eliminate the Office of Health Equity as a statutory position, repeal related advisory-council language, and restrict the use of state-allocated funds for certain programs at both DHHS and DES. The fiscal note anticipates a general-fund savings of about $100,000 per year, with an indeterminable reduction in federal funds, while also noting possible effects on federal grant administration and compliance requirements tied to environmental and civil-rights funding.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill has generated substantial but not unanimous support, with floor votes passing by margins of 186-158 and 192-158. That pattern indicates a closely divided chamber and a politically charged measure. The absence of committee transcript excerpts limits direct insight into debate, but the bill’s subject matter and the split votes suggest strong support among sponsors and like-minded members, alongside significant opposition from members concerned about the elimination of equity and environmental justice functions.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether state government should continue to maintain and fund offices and programs focused on health equity, diversity and inclusion, civil rights, and environmental justice. Supporters appear to favor dissolving these entities and preventing future spending on such initiatives, while opponents likely argue that the bill would weaken public-health equity efforts, civil-rights compliance, and environmental-justice work, and could jeopardize federal funding or program administration. The fiscal note highlights this tension by noting both projected state savings and the possibility of uncertain federal funding impacts.
Carry Over
Directing the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office of health equity, department of environmental services' functions for civil rights and environmental justice, and the governor's council on diversity and inclusion.
Directing the dissolution of the department of health and human services' office of health equity, department of environmental services' functions for civil rights and environmental justice, and the governor's council on diversity and inclusion.
Directing the department of energy to investigate the state's withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategy decisions that impact ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.
Directing the commissioner of the department of education to compile a report on the effects of the dissolution of the United States Department of Education on New Hampshire and its residents.
In renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental Protection, repealing provisions relating to Department of Environmental Protection and providing for Department of Environmental Services; and making editorial changes.
In renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental Protection, repealing provisions relating to Department of Environmental Protection and providing for Department of Environmental Services; and making editorial changes.