Committee Summary for Carbon Sequestration Programs Study Commission (03/06/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:05:11.851 - 9:00:32 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Sarah Hall, Director of Forestry, American Forest Foundation Information Only00:05:11.851 - 9:00:32 AM; Sarah Hall introduced herself and the Family Forest Carbon Program, explaining its history, goals, and benefits for small forest landowners. She described how the program provides annual payments and technical assistance for implementing improved forest management practices on lands as small as 30 acres, started in Pennsylvania in 2020, now in 20 states with over 190,000 acres enrolled. The program enhances carbon sequestration through sustainable practices like extended rotations and preventing high grading, while allowing harvesting (up to 25% basal area), recreation, and legacy planning. In New Hampshire, 1,453 acres are enrolled across 13 landowners. She shared landowner stories: Ed Fisher used payments for taxes on 400 acres used for family recreation and a nonprofit for wounded veterans, including a selective harvest; Louise Hartman, previously disengaged, developed a management plan and timber stand improvement; the Brubach family delayed premature harvesting with financial support. Hall discussed consulting forester partnerships, financial benefits (guaranteed payments, no enrollment cost, 20-year carbon rights ownership), and how the program engages unengaged landowners, with 77% lacking prior management plans. She addressed carbon credit generation via landscape-level methodology, selling to voluntary markets for net-zero goals.
Unclear: Chris Feith, New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association Information Only00:35:11.851 - 9:30:32 AM; Chris Feith asked about connecting the program to broader carbon markets, how credits are generated and sold, and the relationship to AFF's operations.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker (likely committee member) Information Only00:35:11.851 - 9:30:32 AM; The speaker sought clarification on the enrollment process, forester involvement, guaranteed payments, market risk absorption by AFF, and profit sharing.
Unclear: Senator David Rochefort Information Only00:40:11.851 - 9:35:32 AM; Senator Rochefort inquired about current use programs across states, payment structures (upfront vs. flat fees), regional practices, the program's role as a no-risk broker for family lands, tax implications, and management plan requirements versus contract allowances for harvesting and preventing high grading.
Unclear: Eric Murphy, New Hampshire Retail Lumber Association Information Only00:45:11.851 - 9:40:32 AM; Eric Murphy asked about taxes on revenues and payments in various states, and whether funds affect current use statutes, including harvest requirements in other states.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker (likely committee chair or member) Information Only00:50:11.851 - 9:45:32 AM; The speaker followed up on tax reporting (1099 forms), denial rates for enrollments, partial enrollment of properties, harvest profits and yield taxes going to landowners, and administrative responsibilities.
Unclear: Sarah, American Forest Foundation Information Only01:05:11.851 - 10:00:32 AM; Sarah addresses concerns about leakage and additionality, offering to connect with the science team. She discusses the profit-sharing plan, noting that as a nonprofit, any profits would be shared with landowners after upfront costs, but specifics depend on market fluctuations and are outlined in contracts not publicly available due to proprietary nature. She explains that generic contracts are not posted online but provided under NDA. Regarding buyers, she confirms vetting processes to avoid high-risk entities, emphasizes landowners retain all rights except carbon, which AFF owns, and lists public buyers like REI, Netflix, and Bank of America. On enrolling conserved land like a sugarbush, she affirms eligibility if timber is harvestable, using a dynamic baseline for additionality by comparing to real-time data. She clarifies that properties with easements prohibiting harvest are not enrolled. On silviculture, she notes focus on uneven-aged management but flexibility for degraded stands, addressing beech proliferation and invasives by allowing removals under five inches or excluding stands. For events like spongy moth, acres can be excluded without penalty. On disclosing credit sales, she states inability to comply with state requirements as credits are sold at landscape level, not property-specific.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:05:11.851 - 10:00:32 AM; The speaker thanks Sarah for the presentation, emphasizes that AFF's program combines harvesting and carbon credits to support forest management, wood products, and timber taxes. They inquire if even-aged management is excluded, and follow up on concerns about beech in the understory, noting work with consulting foresters to minimize undesirable species.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:05:11.851 - 10:00:32 AM; The speaker asks about the complexity of complying with a potential New Hampshire requirement for carbon developers to disclose where credits are sold.
Unclear: Charlie Oppose01:20:11.851 - 10:15:32 AM; Charlie argues against state requirements for disclosing carbon credit buyers, stating carbon is privately owned like timber, and the state cannot prevent sales any more than conservation easements. He notes only 188,000 acres are in carbon projects, not impacting the market significantly, and opposes singling out carbon among other landowner rights. He highlights growing demand for credits, projecting 100 million needed in 24-30 months against 22 million available.
Unclear: Mr. Brady Support01:20:11.851 - 10:15:32 AM; Mr. Brady disagrees, asserting the state's right to manage its natural resources and know who encumbers private property through long-term carbon agreements, raising national security concerns with foreign entities like China. He distinguishes carbon from shorter-term activities like yield taxes, emphasizing encumbrances affect property management.
Unclear: Chris Information Only01:20:11.851 - 10:15:32 AM; Chris appreciates the discussion on HB 1752 during the moratorium, notes NHGOA's disturbance over related legislation. He clarifies Maine does not require buyer disclosure but asks for registry information; emphasizes no land control by credit buyers, private landowner rights including selling easements, and that state management applies to public lands, not private. He argues restricting carbon rights could deter land ownership in NH.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:20:11.851 - 10:15:32 AM; The speaker corrects that landowners can harvest up to 25% under agreements, encumbering 75% of the parcel. They note larger parcels in current use affect state property taxes and revenue, linking to housing crisis as only 18% of state land is available for development, intertwining private actions with state interests.
Unclear: Mr. Brady Support01:20:11.851 - 10:15:32 AM; Mr. Brady follows up, calling it ludicrous to claim the state has no interest in private property use, citing yield tax precedent and public policy allowing state oversight. He views carbon as potentially transformative but subject to legislative interest within constitutional bounds.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:35:11.851 - 10:30:32 AM; The speaker distributes copies of a publication on forest carbon markets and biology. They inquire about the commission's plan under House Bill 123 to fulfill its charge by 2027, noting needs for surveys and information not publicly available, and confirms no budget or staff for research.
Unclear: Chairman Information Only01:35:11.851 - 10:30:32 AM; The Chairman outlines a three-part plan: today's small projects, next meeting on larger projects inviting developers like Finite Carbon, Forest Carbon Works, and Chestnut Carbon, and Tom Horne for landowner perspective. He clarifies Weyerhaeuser's self-developed projects and sets next meeting for April 17th at 10 AM, calls for motion to adjourn.
Unclear: Charlie Information Only01:35:11.851 - 10:30:32 AM; Charlie suggests inviting alternative developers for small landowners like Forest Carbon Works and Land Yield, distinct from AFF, to cover various programs. He recommends discussing the commission's list of requirements at the next meeting to plan fulfillment without budget.
Unclear: Unidentified Speaker Information Only01:35:11.851 - 10:30:32 AM; The speaker expresses being new to the topic, initially favoring minimal taxes and property rights, but recognizes carbon's emergence requires rethinking taxation for state and town services. They question if carbon decisions impact community services and budget balancing, advocating thinking outside the box while considering land ownership decisions' broader effects.