HB 1570-FN-LOCAL

Committee — INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE

Rep. Terry Roy

The majority opposes this bill because it would require any New Hampshire law enforcement agency seeking a 287(g) agreement with ICE to first obtain prior approval from the local or county “governmental budget authority”complete with a formal cost estimate and public disclosure. Under current law, RSA 106P already authorizes chiefs of police and sheriffs to enter into these voluntary federal agreements without micro managing preconditions, recognizing that law enforcement professionals are best positioned to assess operational needs and partnerships. By inserting elected budget overseers into operational decisions, the bill politicizes law enforcement choices and risks turning routine federal cooperation into a contentious public spectacle. New Hampshire’s municipal budgeting process, governed by RSA 32 and RSA 40, already gives local voters and budget committees full control over funding through the annual warrant process, default budgets, and oversight of appropriations. Voters can reject or adjust any funding line item—including overtime or training costs related to a 287(g) program, by reducing it to zero or amending the budget at town meeting. This bill redundantly mandates preapproval for one narrow type of agreement while ignoring the existing, robust mechanisms that prevent taxpayer dollars from being misused, creating unnecessary red tape without enhancing fiscal accountability. Claims that 287(g) agreements impose unreimbursed costs on local budgets are simply erroneous. ICE fully covers training costs, including travel and IT infrastructure, for participating agencies; and since October 1, 2025, the federal government fully reimburses the annual salary and benefits of each trained 287(g) officer, including up to 25% overtime coverage, plus quarterly performance awards based on successful enforcement outcomes. Local personnel costs are thus offset by direct federal reimbursements, making these partnerships a net gain for public safety without straining municipal budgets. Because existing budgeting laws already provide ample voter oversight of expenditures, because chiefs and sheriffs have statutory authority to pursue lawful federal partnerships that come with substantial federal reimbursements, and because this bill needlessly politicizes routine enforcement cooperation as part of a national strategy to hinder federal immigration efforts, the majority finds this bill to be redundant, disruptive, and contrary to sound public safety policy. Vote 7-6.