Bills: HB393, HB61, SB234, SB234

Keywords: entertainment district, alcohol consumption, local governance, city council, public spaces, home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, Cherokee County, off-road vehicle park, ORV park, ATV, all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike, off-highway vehicle, recreational vehicle, county permit, inspection

Bills: HF4261, HF4263, HF4264, HF4787

Keywords: natural resources, motorboat, boating safety, personal watercraft, PWC, watercraft operator permit, boater safety exam, off-road vehicle, ORV, ATV, snowmobile, state trail pass, cross-country ski pass, horse pass, state park permit, game and fish, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife permit, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• their ORVs on this road legally. their ORVs on this road legally.
• <00:09:21.760> So, the other legally with the ORVs. So, the other legally with the ORVs.
• The only thing I fear is that if an ORV and illegal street vehicle collide, the ORV will lose.
• The only thing I fear is that if an ORV and illegal street vehicle collide, the ORV will lose.
• There's a Hillsboro ORV uh ATV club.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Well, I figured we’d tackle the on-road use first and then transition into ORV land. >> A little
• use first and then transition into ORV use first and then transition into ORV land. land. land.
• Now, I'll use ORVs. They're exempt from title. They're exempt from registration, right?
• Now, I'll use ORVs. They're exempt from title. They're exempt from registration, right?
• Now, I'll use ORVs. They're exempt from title. They're exempt from registration, right?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, trail and then onto the ORV trail.
• mobility devices is no longer an ORV. mobility devices is no longer an ORV.
• They're ORVs. They should be classified as ORVs.
• If it doesn't have pedals, it's an ORV.
• operating it off-road, he held an ORV operating it off-road, he held an ORV registration,<04:36:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, to get the ORVs off the streets.
• For example, to get the ORVs off the streets.
• benefit without uh allowing ORV access. benefit without uh allowing ORV access.
• You can have non-current use land with an ORV trail. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Mr.
• non-current use land with an ORV trail. non-current use land with an ORV trail.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• exec and I open is HB13 to exec and I open is HB13 relative<01:19:44.880> to<01:19:45.360> ORV
• /c><01:19:46.480> operation<01:19:47.040> on<01:19:47.280> certain relative to ORV
• operation on certain relative to ORV operation on certain highways<01:19:48.159> within<01:19
• represents the um the uh manufacturers represents the um the uh manufacturers of<01:24:24.639> ORVs
• that they oppose this um bill of ORVs that they oppose this um bill because<01:24:28.159> they

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee began with introductions and a description of the day’s process: a full committee work session on four bills, with no public testimony, followed by caucus and then executive action. The first bill discussed was HB 113, concerning OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor. Representative Nab presented an amendment that would require a public hearing and Department of Transportation approval, modeled on procedures used in Coös and Grafton counties. Members discussed whether Windsor had already held a local vote or hearing, whether minutes from a town meeting existed, and whether the amendment truly preserved local control. A Windsor resident testified informally that the town had not taken a final vote and that the matter had been left to the state. Committee members also raised concerns about noise, dust, public safety, and the fact that the road in question would connect OHRVs on a state road rather than a trail system. The chair closed the work session on HB 113 and said the committee would return after caucus to vote on the bill and amendment. The committee then took up HB 595FN, relative to coastal resilience zones. Representative Nat said the bill addressed flooding concerns in both coastal and inland New Hampshire, but that the sponsor viewed it as too complex and had recommended breaking the issue into separate parts in future legislation. On that basis, Nat said it was appropriate to ITL the bill, and noted that the sponsor supported that course. No further discussion followed, and the work session was closed. Next was HB 629FN, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams. Representative Darby explained that the original bill had proposed both a waterfront frontage tax and a $5 charge tied to boat registration, but that the amendment would replace the bill by removing the frontage tax, moving the $5 dam-maintenance fee to the boat decal section of statute, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2027. Darby said the larger fee had raised concerns about impacts on current-use property and enforcement, while the revised $5 fee would raise roughly $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Representative Dunn thanked Darby and said the Marine Trades Association supported the revised approach. A question was raised about whether the original prime sponsors supported the amendment; the chair said they were on board, and Darby added that the proposal reflected recommendations from a prior study committee. The committee then closed HB 629FN and opened SB 27FN, relative to dwellings over water. On SB 27FN, Representative Derby said he opposed the bill because it would take away public access rights and amounted to a one-off legislative solution for a private concern. Representative Donnelly asked how many similar structures might be affected and whether the Department of Environmental Services knew of other cases; DES responded that there was one other related case under settlement compliance and no other active cases with the same issue. In follow-up discussion, DES clarified that the proposal was not a shoreland 50-foot setback issue, but rather involved structures extending over public water. The discussion remained focused on the scope of the bill and its potential precedent-setting effect, with no vote taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:46:32.639> But supporting uh ORVs in the state. But supporting uh ORVs in the state.
• benefit without uh allowing ORV access. benefit without uh allowing ORV access.
• You can have non-current use land with an ORV trail.
• You can have non-current use land with an ORV trail.
• So, if is also in our ORV digest.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 163FN, dealing with requiring current, verifiable evidence of a species’ presence before land-use restrictions are imposed for habitat protection. Members discussed an amendment that had been worked on with agencies and stakeholder groups. Fish and Game testified that, while the amendment improved the bill, the agency still opposed it because of concerns about citizen science, how the proposal would apply to public versus private property, and how the transition to DES would work. Representative Darby argued the amendment was ambiguous, lacked a full hearing, and did not clearly address record verification or private-property access issues. The amendment passed 8-7, and the committee then voted OTPA 8-7, with a minority report noted. The committee then moved to HB 1752FN, which would create a chain of custody for timber and carbon credits. Representative Davis presented an amendment saying it would help law enforcement investigate timber theft and add transparency to New Hampshire’s carbon registry by identifying buyers of carbon credits. Supporters said the change would impose little burden and align with practices in other states. Opponents, including Representative Darby, Representative Vale, and the state forester from DNCR, said the carbon market is complex, the amendment was not fully vetted, and a hearing with all stakeholders was needed; they also raised fiscal-note concerns. The amendment passed 8-7, and the committee then voted OTPA 8-7, again with a minority report. Finally, the committee opened a hearing on HB 1019, which would add an active water treatment professional to the state water well board. Representative Peter Petrino and Representative Wendy Thomas said the board should include expertise on contamination risks and treatment technologies, citing concerns about arsenic, radon, and PFAS in private wells. The chairman of the Water Well Board testified in opposition to the bill as drafted, saying the board supports the general idea of licensing water filtration work but does not currently have authority or rules to oversee that field and believes the proposal would put “the cart before the horse.” Members questioned whether the board’s current mandate even covers filtration systems, and the discussion ended with those concerns unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the ORV coordinator for the department.
• No, they're required to have a New Hampshire ORV registration.
• We are 23 ORV clubs in New Hampshire, and our club members and club officers had asked for us to get
• Um, we are 23 ORV clubs in Association. Um, we are 23 ORV clubs in New<00:37:24.880> Hampshire.
• Um, I'd like to take up the ORV bill we just heard. I think there was no objection to the bill.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So if your town wants to let HRVs and ORVs and BTLs, which is short for bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes—I'm
• if your your town wants to let<00:16:32.279> hrvs<00:16:33.160> and<00:16:33.839> orvs
• and<00:16:35.880> btls<00:16:36.880> which<00:16:37.000> is let hrvs and orvs
• and btls which is let hrvs and orvs and btls which is short<00:16:37.319> for<00:16:37.519>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on several House bills and first took up HB 181, which would have made the state responsible for maintaining Opticon systems for fire and emergency on state roads. Members noted that a system already exists and that towns are generally responsible for maintenance once they choose a system, so the committee voted ITL/OTL-style recommendation by a unanimous 18-0 roll call and discussed placing it on the consent calendar. The committee then considered HB 7113, concerning mile markers along Route 112/Kancamagus Highway. Supporters argued the markers would improve safety and help locate stranded motorists in a rural area with poor cell service, while another member noted the bill’s language should be clarified to refer specifically to the Kancamagus and to DOT’s usual 0.2-mile spacing. The committee voted 18-0 to recommend OTP with a fiscal note, and because it was a money bill it would not go on the consent calendar. HB 300, directing DOT to seek proposals on the Conway Branch rail line and creating a rail study committee, was recommended ITL after members said the issue had already been studied and the corridor had already been designated for rail trail; that vote was unanimous and the bill was placed on the consent calendar. HB 375, allowing municipalities to designate sections of state and local highways for all-terrain vehicles, was also recommended ITL. Members said there is already a process for towns to authorize such use and expressed concern about a blanket approach and possible local conflicts; the motion passed unanimously and was sent to the consent calendar. HB 578, relating to a sound barrier along the F.E. Everett Turnpike, drew more discussion: some members said the project should go through the 10-year plan and environmental review process, while others cited local impacts and the need for some barrier or privacy protection. The committee ultimately voted 16-2 to recommend ITL, and it was not placed on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee took up HB 561, concerning transfer of state-owned real property to municipalities. Members voted to retain the bill, with supporters saying they wanted more information, including a site visit to Merrimack’s Continental Boulevard and further discussion of how state roads are handled in other towns. The retain motion passed unanimously 18-0, and members noted that retained bills do not go on a calendar. The chair then announced the committee’s next full meeting would be on February 24 at 10:30 a.m., with a briefing on the capital budget process and a meeting with the Secretary of the Treasury.

Transcript Highlights:

• The duties are to study current statutes related to ORVs, including but not limited to RSA 215-A and
• , positive and adverse effects on ORV use in state and town roads, including Class 5 and 6 roads; the
• effect of noise, dust, and careless, reckless behavior of riders on abutters' trails where ORVs are
• used; educational safety equipment for ORV riders; positive and adverse effects of ORV activity upon
• <00:59:56.520> including current statutes related orvs including current statutes related

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation for the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, led by Chair Bob Harb. He reviewed committee procedures, including pink cards for witnesses, blue sheets for counts, use of drawers in the committee room, scheduling practices, and how bills would be posted and distributed. Members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they wanted to serve on the committee, with several citing interests in conservation, water quality, outdoor recreation, land use, and related local issues. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1113, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways within the town of Windsor. Representative Ré Colcombe, the sponsor, explained that the bill would allow local OHV/UTV access across a short section of state road in Windsor so residents on divided portions of town could travel legally between areas. He said the town selectmen were already allowing OHRV use on town roads, the route was paved, traffic impacts were expected to be minimal, and local police had no objections. He also said the town would hold public hearings and notify abutters as required, and that if the select board ultimately opposed the proposal he would recommend killing the bill. Members asked about the legal authority for the change, speed limits, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and whether the Department of Transportation or select board had to approve the route. Colcombe said the town must hold a public hearing and that the change would need to be incorporated into RSA 258:10, section 4. He said the road is maintained by the town in winter and by the state in summer. An opponent, Anne Davis, testified that she opposed the bill, saying ATV use should be treated as a tool for forest management rather than recreation, that law enforcement capacity in Windsor was a concern, and that she believed affected residents should be fully notified before any approval. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• to note that we have recently released OHV master plan strategic master plans for ATVs, OHMs, and ORVs
• to note that we have recently released OHV master plan strategic master plans for ATVs, OHMs, and ORVs
• to note that we have recently released OHV master plan strategic master plans for ATVs, OHMs, and ORVs
• to note that we have recently released OHV master plan strategic master plans for ATVs, OHMs, and ORVs
• and ORVs after a multi-year process with and ORVs after a multi-year process with extensive<01:39:32.840

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One addresses snowmobiles; 1058 is addressing ORVs.
• One addresses snowmobiles; 1058 is addressing ORVs.
• If you have given somebody a license to go hunt on your property or to go play with their ORV on the
• I've come on this property before, but right now I'm driving my ORV down a public trail," I think we
• So currently, if I open my property up to ORVs and snowmobiles, there's an insurance...

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the state road known as Windsor Road, which runs north-south through town, breaks up an extensive ORV
• You should also realize that Windsor is a very small town, has about 275 residents, and ORV travel is
• <06:14:17.120> You breaks up an extensive ORV trails.
• You breaks up an extensive ORV trails.
• , has about 275 very small town, has about 275 residents,<06:14:23.200> and<06:14:23.520> ORV

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this proposal has to do with the general administration of ORV and snowmobile registration requirements

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The JLCAR June meeting opened with the pledge, approval of the prior minutes, and adoption of the consent calendar after one Fish and Game item was pulled for separate consideration. The committee then reordered the regular calendar and postponed an HHS item at the agency’s request because work was still ongoing. The committee next considered OPLC item 2547, concerning amendments to licensure and discipline forms for regulated professions. Members raised concerns that the application was still too geared toward health professions and that renewal forms should be shorter, but the agency said it was moving toward a dynamic online form that would collapse irrelevant questions. The committee concluded the issue was more about agency operations than policy and adopted the rule. For DNCR item 2551, on rules for the Adopt-a-Park volunteer program, staff explained the agency had been operating the program under statute but had realized rules were required and had been using DOJ review in the meantime. Committee members noted the agency had not followed the rulemaking requirement but was now correcting it, and the rule was approved. Fish and Game item 2570, on electronic OHRV and snowmobile registration applications, drew discussion over whether the online process should be processed in five days to match mail-in applications or remain at ten days; the agency cited workload and file-transfer delays, and the committee adopted a conditional approval with an oral amendment leaving the ten-day timeframe in place for now. In other business, staff described a planned upgrade to the committee’s agency portal and database workflow, moving from email submissions to an online portal with better form validation and document upload features. Members supported the modernization and approved the manual change, with implementation expected after agency sign-up and training later in the summer.

Transcript Highlights:

• support from seven accounts within the Natural Resources Fund, including motorized vehicle accounts for ORV

Transcript Highlights:

• So this proposal has to do with the general administration of ORV and snowmobile registration requirements

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The JLCAR meeting opened with approval of the prior minutes and the consent calendar, after one Fish and Game item was pulled from consent for separate discussion. The committee then reordered the regular calendar and postponed an HHS item at the agency’s request because work on the proposal was still ongoing and the sponsoring representative was absent. The committee next considered OPLC item 2547, dealing with amendments to licensure and discipline forms for regulated professions. Members raised concerns that the form appeared geared toward health professions and that boards were not sufficiently involved in the process. OPLC responded that the form was being moved toward a dynamic online format with logic to collapse irrelevant questions, and that the agency was trying to make the application more user-friendly. The committee approved the item. DNCR item 2551, concerning volunteer/adopt-a-park program rules, was approved after the agency acknowledged it had been operating the program and using forms before formal rules were adopted, and said it was now correcting that issue. Fish and Game item 2570, on electronic OHRV and snowmobile registration applications, drew discussion over processing times. The committee chair argued for consistency with the five-day mail-in processing period, while Fish and Game said it had concerns about file-transfer delays and workload and preferred 10 days. The committee ultimately approved the proposal with an oral amendment and conditional approval. In other business, staff described a broader move to an online agency portal for submitting rulemaking documents, replacing email submissions. Members supported the change as a modernization effort and noted it would also make it easier to see which rules are nearing expiration. The committee approved the manual change, with implementation planned for early August after agency training.

Transcript Highlights:

• created I don't know why they<00:34:32.200> didn't<00:34:32.359> say<00:34:32.599> orvs
• but<00:34:33.639> they<00:34:33.760> only<00:34:33.919> say they didn't say orvs
• but they only say they didn't say orvs but they only say snowmobiles<00:34:35.760> so<00:34:36.280

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill, we heard fishing game state that this amendment wasn't required because they would defer to the ORV
• think<00:15:23.839> he<00:15:24.000> called<00:15:24.160> the<00:15:24.320> ORV
• /c><00:15:24.880> or<00:15:25.040> the<00:15:25.120> motor think he called the ORV
• or the motor think he called the ORV or the motor vehicles<00:15:25.760> portion<00:15:26.079

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• maybe compensation is directly with local law enforcement with our agency to them to assist with the ORV
• /c><02:15:05.760> assist<02:15:06.079> with<02:15:06.239> the<02:15:06.400> ORV
• <02:15:07.199> trails<02:15:07.599> and them to assist with the ORV trails and them
• to assist with the ORV trails and things<02:15:08.000> like<02:15:08.159> that.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all