Revision: Feb. 21, 2025, 1:56 p.m.
HB 720-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0666
08/11
HOUSE BILL 720-FN
AN ACT prohibiting the importation and sale of live bait fish from out of state.
SPONSORS: Rep. Long, Hills. 26; Rep. Read, Rock. 10
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the importation and sale of live bait fish from out of state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0666
08/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT prohibiting the importation and sale of live bait fish from out of state.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Live Bait Fish: Importation Prohibited. RSA 214:34-d is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
214:34-d Importation Prohibited. No live fish of any description shall be brought into this state for use as bait. This prohibition shall apply to all species.
2 Live Bait Fish; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 214:35 to read as follows:
214:35 Rules. The executive director shall have the authority, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to adopt and enforce rules relative to bait dealers dealing in [live fish or] aquatic invertebrates with the exception of the daily bag limits and possession limits. The bag limits and possession limits shall be as follows: A retailer may take 20 quarts per day and hold a maximum of 100 quarts possession limit at any one time. A wholesaler may take 100 quarts per day and hold a maximum of 200 quarts possession limit at any one time. Nothing in this section shall affect the sale of garden worms or night crawlers.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0666
Revised 2/20/25
HB 720-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT prohibiting the importation and sale of live bait fish from out of state.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
Revenue Fund | Fish and Game Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund and Fish and Game Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
| ||||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill, effective January 1, 2026, states that no live fish of any description shall be brought into the state for use as bait. The Fish and Game Department states this bill would negatively impact the fishing experience for licensed anglers that fish in the State, in turn impacting the revenue to the Department from license sales. Ultimately, this bill’s impact on Fish and Game revenue and expenditures is indeterminable.
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Fish and Game Department, Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association