MUNICIPAL REVENUE BONDS

RSA tit. III, ch. 33-B

in effect

RSA 33-B:1 Definitions.

33-B:1. Definitions. This chapter may be referred to as the "Municipal Revenue Bond Act". For purposes of this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context, the following words shall have the following meanings: I. "Authorized officers" means the treasurer of a municipality or regional water district and the mayor or city manager of a city, the selectmen of a town, and the commissioners or comparable officers of a village district, and the directors, commissioners, or other officers of a regional water district. II. "Bonds" means any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under this chapter. III. "Construction" means acquisition, construction, reconstruction, equipping, enlargement or other capital improvement. III-a. "Governing body" means the board of selectmen in a town, the board of aldermen or council in a city or town with a council, the village commissioners in a village district, or the directors of a regional water district. IV. "Legislative body" means the city council of a city, and the voters present and voting at an annual or special meeting of a town or village district, or the directors of a regional water district. V. "Municipality" means a city, town, village district, or communications district formed under RSA 53-G. V-a. "Regional water district" means an entity formed by agreement between government units pursuant to RSA 53-A, for the purpose of providing and assuring the provision of an adequate and sustainable supply of clean water. VI. "Revenue-producing facilities" means water works, broadband infrastructure as defined in RSA 38:38, I(e), purchased or constructed to serve any location within a municipality unserved by broadband as defined in RSA 38:38, I(c) or any location within a communications district formed under RSA 53-G, sewerage systems, sewage treatment or disposal facilities, solid waste disposal or resource recovery facilities, parking facilities, facilities for the production, generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity or gas, any other real or personal property or interests in a municipality or regional water district owned or controlled by the municipality or regional water district, from the operation of which revenues are or are expected to be derived by the municipality, or regional water district, and qualifying energy conservation and clean energy improvements for which a municipality provides financing pursuant to RSA 53-F. VII. "Revenues" means any rates, rents, fees, charges and other receipts and moneys held or to be received by or on behalf of a municipality or regional water district from or with respect to the construction, financing, operation and disposition of a revenue-producing facility and all rights to receive the same including, without limitation, rates, rents, fees, charges and other moneys received for the use or occupancy of the facility or any part thereof or any service provided thereby, repayments of loans made in respect of the cost of the facility, grants, loans and other contributions from any governmental unit or any other person for or in respect of proceeds of the lease, sale or other disposition of the facility or any interest therein; revenues shall not include any ad valorem taxes on the real estate and personal property comprising any revenue-producing facility. Source. 1988, 90:1. 1989, 124:7. 1990, 70:4, eff. Jan. 30, 1991. 1997, 206:2, eff. July 1, 1997. 2003, 281:1-5, eff. July 18, 2003. 2006, 225:5, eff. July 31, 2006. 2011, 68:1, eff. July 15, 2011. 2018, 118:5, eff. July 29, 2018. 2020, 28:5, eff. July 22, 2020. 2023, 173:1, eff. Sept. 26, 2023.

RSA 33-B:2 Issuance of Revenue Bonds.

33-B:2. Issuance of Revenue Bonds. A municipality or regional water district may issue bonds or notes under this chapter for construction of revenue-producing facilities. Bonds issued by a municipality or regional water district under this chapter shall not be deemed to be a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or of the municipality or municipalities that are members of a regional water district. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds shall be payable solely from the particular funds provided therefor under this chapter. Bonds issued by a municipality shall be issued in such amounts as the legislative body may authorize by a vote as required under RSA 33:8 or 9, as applicable. Bonds issued by regional water districts shall be issued in such amounts as the governing body may authorize pursuant to the regional water district's charter. Bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, including rates variable from time to time as determined by such index, banker's loan rate or other method as may be determined by the authorized officers, and shall mature at such time or times as may be determined by the authorized officers, except that no bond shall mature more than 40 years from the date of its issue or beyond the expiration of the expected useful life of the facilities being financed by the bonds as determined by the authorized officers. Bonds may be made redeemable before maturity at the option of the municipality or regional water district at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the authorized officers prior to the issue of bonds. The authorized officers shall determine the form and details and the manner of execution of bonds. The municipality or regional water district may sell its bonds in such manner, either at public or private sale, for such price, at such rate or rates of interest, or at such discount in lieu of interest, as the authorized officers may determine. The provisions of RSA 33:11-a, 14 and 15 shall apply to bonds issued under this chapter. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988. 2003, 281:6, eff. July 18, 2003.

RSA 33-B:3 Project Costs.

33-B:3. Project Costs. In addition to other lawful items, the costs to be financed by the issuance of bonds under this chapter may include interest during construction and for up to one year after completion of the revenue-producing facilities being financed as estimated by the authorized officers, the cost of architectural, engineering, financial and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, expenses as may be necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing the revenue-producing facilities, the funding of reserves for debt service or other expenses, and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the construction of the revenue-producing facilities, the financing of such construction and the placing of the facilities in operation. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:4 Trust or Security Agreement or Resolution.

33-B:4. Trust or Security Agreement or Resolution. Any bonds issued under this chapter may be secured by a resolution or by a trust or security agreement between the municipality and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state, or by a trust or security agreement directly between the municipality and the purchasers of the bonds, and such resolution or trust or security agreement shall be in such form and executed in such manner as may be determined by the authorized officers. Such trust or security agreement or resolution may pledge or assign, in whole or in part, the revenues held or to be received by the municipality from or on account of the revenue-producing facilities, and any contract or other rights to receive the same, whether then existing or thereafter coming into existence and whether then held or thereafter acquired by the municipality, and the proceeds thereof. Such trust or security agreement or resolution may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights, security and remedies of the bondholders as may, in the discretion of the authorized officers, be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such agreement or resolution may include provisions defining defaults and providing for remedies in the event of default, which may include the acceleration of maturities, and covenants setting forth the duties of, and limitations on, the municipality in relation to the custody, safeguarding, investment and application of moneys, the issue of additional or refunding bonds, the fixing, revision and collection of fees, charges and other revenues, the use of any surplus bond proceeds, the establishment of reserves, the construction and operation of the revenue-producing facilities, and the making and amending of contracts relating to the bonds. It shall be lawful for any bank or trust company described in RSA 41:29 or RSA 48:16 to act as a depository or trustee of the proceeds of bonds, revenues or other moneys under a trust or security agreement or resolution and to furnish such indemnification or to pledge such securities and issue such letters or lines of credit or other credit facilities as may be required by a municipality acting under this chapter. Any such trust or security agreement or resolution may set forth the rights and remedies of bondholders and of the trustee and may restrict the individual right of action by bondholders. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:5 Credit Facilities and Insurance.

33-B:5. Credit Facilities and Insurance. Any bonds issued under authority of this chapter may be issued by a municipality pursuant to lines of credit or other banking arrangements under such terms and conditions not inconsistent with this chapter, and under such agreements as the authorized officers may determine to be in the best interests of the municipality. In addition to other security provided herein or otherwise by law, bonds issued by a municipality under this chapter may be secured, in whole or in part, by insurance or by letters or lines of credit or other credit facilities issued to the municipality by any bank, trust company or other financial institution, within or without the state, and the municipality may pledge or assign any of the revenues from its revenue-producing facilities as security for the reimbursement by the municipality to the issuers of such letters or lines of credit, insurance or credit facilities of any payments made thereunder. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:6 Pledge of Revenues or Other Property.

33-B:6. Pledge of Revenues or Other Property. Any pledge of revenues, contract or other rights to receive revenues, or the proceeds thereof made by a municipality under this chapter shall be valid and binding and shall be deemed continuously perfected for the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code and other laws from the time when the pledge is made; the revenues, moneys, rights and proceeds so pledged and then held or thereafter acquired or received by the municipality shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery or segregation thereof or further act; and the lien of such pledge shall be valid and binding against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the municipality, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution, any trust or security agreement nor any other agreement by which a pledge is created need be filed or recorded except in the records of the municipality and no filing need be made under the Uniform Commercial Code. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:7 Enforcement of Rights.

33-B:7. Enforcement of Rights. Any owner of a bond issued by a municipality under the provisions of this chapter and any trustee under a trust or security agreement or resolution securing the same, except to the extent the rights herein given may be restricted by such agreement or resolution, may bring suit upon the bonds and may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceeding for legal or equitable relief, protect and enforce any and all rights under the laws of the state or granted hereunder or under such trust or security agreement or resolution and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this chapter or by such agreement or resolution to be performed by the municipality or by any officer of a municipality. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:8 Refunding Bonds.

33-B:8. Refunding Bonds. A municipality, when authorized by its legislative body, may issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying any of its bonds issued pursuant to this chapter at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. Refunding bonds may be issued at such times prior to the maturity or redemption of the refunding bonds as the authorized officers may determine. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption premium on the bonds, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of such bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming the bonds being refunded, and such reserves for debt service or other expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by a trust or security agreement or resolution securing the bonds. The authorization and issue of refunding bonds, the maturities and other details of such bonds, the security for the bonds, the rights of the holders of the bonds, and the rights, duties and obligations of the municipality in respect to the same shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter relating to the issue of the bonds other than refunding bonds insofar as the same may be applicable. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:9 Governmental Consents.

33-B:9. Governmental Consents. I. Bonds may be issued under this chapter without obtaining the consent of any department, division, commission, board, or agency of the state except as provided in paragraph II, and without any other proceedings or the happening of any condition or things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required therefor by this chapter, and the validity of and security for any bonds issued by a municipality pursuant to this chapter shall not be affected by the existence or nonexistence of any such consent or other proceedings, condition or things. II. If in the opinion of either the authorized officers or the state treasurer more than 1/2 of the revenues derived or expected to be derived from a revenue-producing facility will be in the form of rents, fees, grants or other moneys paid by the state, no bonds may be issued for the revenue-producing facility in excess of an amount approved for the purpose by the governor and council. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:10 Investment Securities.

33-B:10. Investment Securities. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter or any recitals in any bonds issued under this chapter, all such bonds shall be deemed to be investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:11 Separate Funds.

33-B:11. Separate Funds. Any debt service fund, construction fund, debt service reserve fund, depreciation reserve fund or other fund established in connection with the issuance of bonds under this chapter shall be kept separate from other moneys of the municipality. The moneys deposited in any such funds, together with income derived from any investments held as part of such funds, shall be expended without further authorization or appropriation as provided for in the trust or security agreement or resolution establishing such funds. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:12 Trust Funds.

33-B:12. Trust Funds. All moneys received pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, whether as proceeds from the issue of bonds, as revenues, or otherwise, shall be deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:13 Tax Exemption.

33-B:13. Tax Exemption. Bonds issued under this chapter, their transfer and income from them, including any profit made on their sale, shall at all times be exempt from taxation within the state. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:14 Eligible Investments.

33-B:14. Eligible Investments. Bonds issued under this chapter are hereby made securities in which all public officers, agencies and authorities of the state and of its political subdivisions, insurance companies, investment companies, executors, administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state or municipal officer or any agency, authority or political subdivision of the state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations of the state or of any political subdivision is now or may hereafter be authorized by law. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

RSA 33-B:15 Construction and Effect of Other Laws.

33-B:15. Construction and Effect of Other Laws. I. The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to provide an additional and alternative method for the effectuation of the purposes of this chapter and shall be construed to be supplemental to, and not in derogation of, powers otherwise conferred by law on municipalities, provided, however, that insofar as the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, administrative order or rule or any limitation imposed by a municipality's charter, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. II. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable. III. This chapter shall be construed in all respects so as to meet all constitutional requirements. In carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, all steps shall be taken which are necessary to meet constitutional requirements. IV. This chapter shall be interpreted liberally to effect the purposes set forth in this chapter. Source. 1988, 90:1, eff. June 17, 1988.

Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-III-33-B.htmFetched: 10/20/2026