HB 1176-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2473
06/05
HOUSE BILL 1176-FN
AN ACT relative to the display of license plates on vehicles.
SPONSORS: Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Alexander Jr., Hills. 29; Rep. Labrie, Hills. 2; Rep. Aures, Merr. 13; Rep. Aldrich, Belk. 6; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16
COMMITTEE: Transportation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill removes the requirement that a motor vehicle display a front license plate.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2473
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the display of license plates on vehicles.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Number Plates. Amend RSA 261:75, II to read as follows:
II. Every vehicle driven in or on any way in this state, if required to be registered hereunder, shall have displayed conspicuously [thereon] on the rear of the vehicle a single number plate [or plates] to be furnished by the department, together with any current validation sticker issued by the department and which has a changeable designation of their effective period. The director may make special rules relative to [the number of plates,] the location of said plate [or plates] on the vehicle, and the material and design thereof, provided, however, that number plates for passenger vehicles shall have the state motto "Live Free or Die" written thereon. The plate shall be kept clean.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2473
11/5/25
HB 1176-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the display of license plates on vehicles.
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $646,667 Decrease | $776,000 Decrease | $776,000 Decrease | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | Reflectorized Plate Fund (RSA 228:25) | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $565,833 Decrease | $679,000 Decrease | $679,000 Decrease | ||
Funding Source(s) | Reflectorized Plate Fund (RSA 228:25) | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill removes the requirement that a motor vehicle display a front license plate. Based on information provided by the Department of Safety, approximately 194,000 vehicles were registered with new plate types in calendar year 2024. The Department states the cost to produce a single plate is approximately $3.50, with the current statutory fee set at $4 per plate. Therefore, annually this bill could reduce state expenditures and revenue by $679,000 ($3.50 x 194,000 plates) and $776,000 ($4 x 194,000 plates), respectively. Assuming an effective date of September 1, 2026, those amounts would be reduced in FY 2027 to approximately $565,833 and $646,667, respectively. It should be noted that motor vehicle registration and licensing legislation is typically effective to begin a calendar year (January 1).
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | 2026-0197h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 26, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 2, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 2, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0197h 01/27/2026 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 6 P. 20
Jan. 21, 2026: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
Jan. 14, 2026: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 01/20/2026 02:45 pm GP 234
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 11:00 am GP 234
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation