HB1301 (2026) Detail

Increasing certain mooring fees and directing such funds to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.


HB 1301-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2871

08/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1301-FN

 

AN ACT increasing certain mooring fees and directing such funds to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. R. Brown, Carr. 8; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7; Rep. Hamblen, Carr. 3; Rep. Walker, Straf. 19; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3

 

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill increases the fee for moorings not in a congregate mooring field and directs such funds to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2871

08/05

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT increasing certain mooring fees and directing such funds to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Decal Issuance; Mooring Fee; Cyanobacteria Fund.  Amend RSA 270:62, V to read as follows:

V. A fee of $125 shall be charged for each initial decal issued pursuant to this subdivision which shall be deposited in the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a. An annual mooring fee of $50 for each mooring in a congregate mooring field and [$25] $50 for each mooring not in a congregate mooring field shall be charged for each decal renewed or replaced pursuant to this subdivision which shall be deposited in the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a and $25 shall be deposited into the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund established under RSA 485-A:61.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

 

LBA

26-2871

11/17/25

 

HB 1301-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT increasing certain mooring fees and directing such funds to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$68,750 to $80,000

$68,750 to $80,000

$68,750 to $80,000

Revenue Fund(s)

Cyanobacteria Mitigation Fund

Expenditures*

$0

$68,750 to $80,000

$68,750 to $80,000

$68,750 to $80,000

Funding Source(s)

Cyanobacteria Mitigation Fund

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increaser

Indeterminable Increase

Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill increases the annual mooring fee for moorings not located in a congregate mooring field from $25 to $50 and directs $25 of each fee collected to the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund established under RSA 485-A:61.

The Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) states this bill will result in an increase in state revenues and expenditures from the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Fund beginning in FY 2027.

The Department, using data provided by the Department of Safety-Marine Patrol, estimates there are between 2,750 and 3,200 moorings on inland waterbodies that require annual registration under RSA 270:61–62. Increasing the fee by $25 per mooring and depositing this portion into the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Fund is projected to generate between $68,750 and $80,000 annually.  These revenues would be used for competitive grants or loans to municipalities and nonprofit lake or watershed associations for projects that mitigate or prevent cyanobacteria blooms.

The Department notes that the statutory language is not entirely clear and could be interpreted to apply the $25 fee increase to both congregate and individual moorings.  If applied more broadly, the fiscal impact could be higher.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Environmental Services

 

Links


Date Body Type
Jan. 14, 2026 House Hearing

Bill Text Revisions

HB1301 Revision: 49619 Date: Dec. 1, 2025, 10:14 a.m.

Docket


Jan. 9, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/14/2026 11:30 am GP 228


Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development