Revision: Feb. 17, 2026, 1:33 p.m.
HB 1301-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
12Feb2026... 0181h
2026 SESSION
26-2871
08/05
HOUSE BILL 1301-FN
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12Feb2026... 0181h 26-2871
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
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] $75 for each mooring in a congregate mooring field, $75 for each mooring in a public mooring field, and [$25] $50 for each mooring not in a congregate or public mooring field shall be charged for each decal renewed or replaced pursuant to this subdivision. [which] $50 of the annual fee for each mooring in a public or congregate mooring field 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. $25 of the annual fee for each mooring not in a public or congregate mooring field 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.
26-2871
02/13/2026
HB 1301-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2026-0181h)
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | |||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | |
Revenue | $0 | $111,250 to $122,500 | $111,250 to $122,500 | $111,250 to $122,500 | |
Revenue Fund(s) | Cyanobacterial Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund | ||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $111,250 to $122,500 | $111,250 to $122,500 | $111,250 to $122,500 | |
Funding Source(s) | Cyanobacterial Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund | ||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | |
Funding Source(s) | None | ||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | |||||
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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 | |||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | |||
This bill increases certain annual mooring fees under RSA 270:62 for inland waterbodies and directs $25 of each applicable annual mooring fee to the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund established under RSA 485-A:61. Specifically, the bill increases the annual mooring fee from $50 to $75 for each mooring in a congregate or public mooring field and from $25 to $50 for each mooring not in a congregate or public mooring field. Of each annual fee, $25 shall be deposited into the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund and the remainder into the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a
The Department of Environmental Services states this bill would increase revenue to the existing Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund. The Department indicates the New Hampshire Department of Safety Marine Patrol reports approximately 2,750 to 3,200 individual moorings and an additional 1,700 moorings in congregate mooring fields on inland waterbodies subject to RSA 270:61-62. In total, there are an estimated 4,450 to 4,900 moorings. Based on this range, and assuming $25 per mooring is deposited into the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund, the Department estimates additional dedicated fund revenue of $111,250 to $122,500 annually beginning in FY 2027. The same amount is expected to be expended annually from the dedicated fund for cyanobacteria mitigation projects.
The Department notes that cyanobacteria mitigation projects typically cost between $250,000 and $500,000 per project. Of the initial $1,000,000 General Fund appropriation provided in 2023 to establish the fund, approximately $250,000 remains, although a current application for $200,000 is pending. After FY 2026, the Department anticipates that only revenues generated by this bill, estimated at up to $122,500 per year, will be available to support mitigation projects. Funding is expected to be awarded competitively to municipalities or nonprofit lake and watershed associations.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services