HB 375 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0433
11/08
HOUSE BILL 375
AN ACT allowing municipalities to designate sections of state and local highways for all terrain vehicles.
SPONSORS: Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows a municipality's governing body to designate any part of any state or local highway, including any bridges or road connectors on those highways, for ATV use.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0433
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT allowing municipalities to designate sections of state and local highways for all terrain vehicles.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; ATV Use on Highways. Amend RSA 215-A:6 by inserting after section 215-A:6 the following new section:
215-A:6-a ATV Use on Designated Highways.
I. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the governing body of a municipality may designate any part of a state or local highway for ATV use, so long as it does not restrict the use of other vehicles permitted by law on such highway. Municipalities and the bureau of trails are exempt from the permitting process and requirements of 215-A:3, VIII regarding a bridge or connector on a portion of highway designated for ATV travel.
II. To the extent there is any conflict between this section and RSA 215-A:6 and RSA 215-A:9, the conflict shall be resolved in favor of this section.
III. A municipality may limit the designation of any part of the highway to specific dates, seasons, or times of operation. To the extent that this paragraph conflicts with any law, the conflict shall be resolved in favor of this paragraph.
IV. Any portion of a highway designated according to paragraph I of this section shall have a maximum speed limit of 40 miles per hour. A municipality may petition for reduction of speed limit under RSA 265:62 in order to meet the requirements of this section. An ATV must be capable of sustained travel at the posted speed limit of the designated portion to operate on the designated portion.
V. Any person who operates an ATV on a portion of a highway designated according to paragraph I of this section shall hold a valid driver's license and operate the ATV according to the same traffic enforcement laws as other motor vehicles on state and local highways, except that enforcement of vehicle equipment violations shall be based on ATV equipment required under this section.
VI. Any ATV traveling on a designated portion of a state or local road shall be equipped with directional signals, emergency flashers, and a horn, in addition to equipment required under 215-A:14.
VII. The department of transportation shall design and manufacture signage for designated portions of highway allowing ATV travel. A municipality shall be responsible for installation costs of signage, including the cost of signs themselves, and maintenance of required signage on designated portions of highways in its municipality.
VIII. Municipalities with designated highway portions under this section shall provide maps and written descriptions of designated portions within their municipal limits. Municipalities shall make the maps available at a municipal office and on the municipal website.
IX. The department of safety, department of transportation, department of fish and game, and the department of natural and cultural resources shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, necessary to ensure the safety of all motorists on designated portions of highways and to facilitate ATV transportation on designated portions of highways in accordance with this section.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 28, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 11, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
Feb. 4, 2025: Executive Session: 02/11/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
Feb. 4, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/28/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
Jan. 21, 2025: Public Hearing: 01/28/2025 10:00 am LOB 201
Jan. 8, 2025: Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Public Works and Highways HJ 2 P. 17