Revision: March 8, 2016, midnight
\t \t\tHB 1430-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
4Feb2016... 0130h
4Feb2016... 0270h
2016 SESSION
\t16-2078
\t03/01
HOUSE BILL\t1430-FN
AN ACT\trelative to registration of compact utility tractors.
SPONSORS:\tRep. L. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Hannon, Straf. 25; Rep. Hill, Merr. 3; Rep. Whitehouse, Straf. 2
COMMITTEE:\tTransportation
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ANALYSIS
\tThis bill establishes registration, operation, and equipment requirements for compact utility tractors.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
4Feb2016... 0130h\t16-2078
4Feb2016... 0270h\t03/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\trelative to registration of compact utility tractors.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 Words and Phrases; Compact Utility Trailer Added. Amend RSA 259:13-a to read as follows:
\t259:13-a Compact Utility Tractor. "Compact utility tractor" shall mean any self-propelled 4-wheel vehicle utilizing diesel fuel, with a rated horsepower not to exceed 28 horsepower, that is capable of carrying not more than one occupant, is equipped by the manufacturer with at least one PTO (power take-off) in addition to any PTO installed for the purpose of an under-tractor mower deck, and has no provision for carrying a load other than attached implements such as snowplows, tool boxes, or bucket loaders.
\t2 New Section; Registration, Equipment, and Inspection of Vehicles; Exemption for Compact Utility Tractors. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 41-a the following new section:
\t261:41-b Registration, Equipment, and Inspection of Vehicles; Exemption for Compact Utility Tractor.
\t\tI. A compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, if operated upon a way shall be registered as provided in RSA 261:141, I(d).
\t\tII. Any compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, shall be exempt from any inspection requirements.
\t\tIII. A compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, may only be operated within one mile of the registrant's address and may be utilized by the registrant only for noncommercial agricultural and residential maintenance purposes.
\t\tIV. When operated on a way for purposes other than crossing the way for trail access, any compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, shall be equipped with at least one red reflex reflector and a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the vehicle and may be equipped additionally with an amber flashing or rotating light. When operating at any time during the period from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, any compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, shall be equipped with one or more headlights and one or more rear taillights, each in working order.
\t3 Operation on Ways. Amend RSA 265:160 to read as follows:
\t265:160 Utility Vehicles and Compact Utility Tractors; Operation on Ways Restricted. No person shall operate a utility vehicle, including an agricultural/industrial utility vehicle as defined in RSA 259:2-a, a compact utility tractor, as defined in RSA 259:13-a, or an off highway recreational vehicle as defined in RSA 259:69, except on a way where the posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour or less or, in the case of compact utility tractor, 35 miles per hour or less, and the route or crossing being used is open to such vehicles and at such times and under any other special operating conditions established by the government authority having control of the way. Any person operating or in actual physical control of such a vehicle upon a way shall hold a valid driver's license.
\t4 New Subparagraph; Registration Fees. Amend RSA 261:141, I by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:
\t\t\t(d) For each compact utility tractor--$10.
\t5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2078
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t11/12/15
HB 1430-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\trelative to registration of compact utility tractors.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Safety states this bill, as introduced, would increase state revenues by an indeterminable amount in FY 2017 and each year thereafter, increase local revenues by an indeterminable amount in FY 2018 and each year thereafter, increase state expenditures by $285,850 in FY 2017 and by an indeterminable amount in FY 2018 and each year thereafter, and may increase local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2017. There will be no impact on county revenues or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Safety states this bill establishes registration, operation, and equipment requirements for compact utility tractors, which are currently not required to be registered. This bill establishes the registration fee to be $10 and while the Department recognizes this would result in an increase to state highway fund revenues, it is unable to estimate how many of these tractors would be registered and therefore the amount of revenue this bill may generate. State expenditures and local revenues would increase under this bill by an indeterminable amount in FY 2018 and each year thereafter relative to highway block grants pursuant to RSA 235:23 (12 percent of total road toll revenue and motor vehicle fees are distributed to cities and towns pursuant to a specified formula in the year following collection).
The Department states there would be incremental system programming costs related to changes necessary to implement this new registration type. Based on estimated hours related to making the necessary changes, the Department estimates the cost to be $285,850. Additionally, the Department states cities and towns may experience an increased cost in implementing these changes depending on their municipal agent software.