Following Strong State Revenue Report, Governor Hassan Again Urges Legislature to Move Quickly to Approve Additional Resources to Combat Opioid Crisis

Press Release

Following the release of the February Revenue Focus pdf file that shows year-to-date revenues for the current fiscal year approximately $60 million ahead of projections, Governor Maggie Hassan again called on the legislature to act quickly to pass a series of bills that provide additional resources to strengthen the state's efforts to combat the heroin and opioid crisis and help save lives.

"The heroin and opioid crisis is devastating families, communities and businesses across the state, and we cannot sit idly by as we continue to lose our friends, our loved ones and our fellow Granite Staters," Governor Hassan said. "As our economy continues to strengthen, state revenues are outpacing projections by approximately $60 million this year. It is clear that we have the resources to take additional steps to combat this horrible epidemic and help save lives, and we must. We cannot stem and reverse the tide of this crisis without providing additional resources for law enforcement and for prevention, treatment and recovery programs, and I call on legislators from both parties to pass these important measures as soon as possible."

Governor Hassan called the legislature into a special session last November and proposed comprehensive legislation, including providing additional resources to help communities combat the opioid crisis. While the legislature expedited important bipartisan legislation earlier this year, it has yet to act on measures that require funding.

"We must provide additional resources for prevention, treatment and recovery programs, enact a statewide drug court program, expand the state's partnerships with local law enforcement, add an attorney at the Department of Justice to focus on opioid-related crimes and issues, and upgrade the technology for our prescription drug monitoring program," Governor Hassan said. "We also know that we need to continue working to reauthorize the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program, which has provided substance abuse and behavioral health services to thousands of Granite Staters and is essential to expanding treatment capacity."

In addition to the legislation reauthorizing the bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program, there are a series of bills pending before the legislature that reflect items in the comprehensive proposal that the Governor presented when she called for a special session of the legislature last fall.

Senate Bill 533, with an amendment sponsored by Senator Jeff Woodburn, would provide $5 million in funding for the Governor's Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery and roughly $150,000 for an additional attorney at DOJ focused on opioid-related crimes and issues. The commission funds would go to prevention, treatment and recovery providers to assist thousands of additional Granite Staters, and the additional attorney would help the Department of Justice pursue homicide charges for drug dealers. Senate Bill 533 is expected to be voted on by the full Senate next week.

Senate Bill 464 would provide roughly $3.2 million to establish a statewide drug court program. It passed the Senate in a bipartisan voice vote and is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Senate Bill 485 would provide nearly $1.9 million to expand a state grant program to partner with local law enforcement in hard-hit communities, such as the state's partnership with Operation Granite Hammer in Manchester. It also passed the Senate in a bipartisan voice vote. Senate Bill 485 is currently in the House Finance Committee.

Senate Bill 522 would provide $130,000 for upgrades to the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to ensure that more prescribers can use it in a timely fashion. The Senate passed it in a bipartisan voice vote, and it is currently in the House Finance Committee.

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