Concord — Lawmakers approved $1.5 million in fresh funding for drug enforcement on Thursday after hours of protests by some Republican House members.

Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan signed the bill soon after the vote.

The money will be used for police officers’ overtime pay to expand a program called Operation Granite Hammer, already in operation in Manchester. The program aims to stifle the flow of illegal drugs by putting more police officers on patrol in highly trafficked drug areas. It also includes overtime money for the state forensics lab that evaluates illegal substances.

Republican House Majority Leader Dick Hinch said during the debate: “If we put drug dealers and traffickers behind bars, that prevents them from distributing any amount of those deadly, addictive doses. Isn’t it our responsibility to make this happen?”

New data from the medical examiner’s office show 141 drug deaths this year with another 84 pending toxicology results.

Unusual circumstances surrounded Thursday’s vote, promoting the intraparty feud among House Republicans. The lower chamber rejected the funding two weeks ago, on the last official session day of the year, partly because a proposal to change retiree health care benefits was attached. The rejection surprised many and prompted Hassan and legislative leaders to hastily call lawmakers back into session.

Republican opponents said coming back into session to pass a bill that had already been rejected flouted House rules and was inappropriate. Some said the money would be better spent on treatment programs.

People addicted to drugs “need help, they do not need a hammer,” said Rep. John Burt, R-Goffstown.

But the measure eventually passed the House, 235-74, with broad support. It then went on to quickly pass the Senate.

The vote marks the end of the Legislature’s two-year session.