HB 1354-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3160
06/09
HOUSE BILL 1354-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Thackston, Ches. 12
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the division of motor vehicles to issue a special registration plate symbol to any applicant who holds a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission upon payment of a special registration plate symbol fee.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3160
06/09
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 New Section; Special Registration Plate Symbol; Amateur Radio Operator Decal. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 75-c the following new section:
261:75-d Amateur Radio Operator Decal; Special Registration Plate Symbol.
I. The director is hereby authorized to assign registration numbers that include a special registration plate symbol for the purpose of recognizing licensed amateur radio operators. The special registration plate symbol shall serve as a character in the registration number. A special registration plate symbol may be used on any type of number plate issued by the division for private passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles.
II. The design and size of an appropriate symbol shall be determined by the commissioner in consultation with representatives of the amateur radio community and the commissioner of safety. The department shall determine the means of identifying the special registration plate symbol in the computerized records of the department.
III. A special registration plate symbol shall be available to any applicant who holds a valid amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission, upon payment of a special registration plate symbol fee of $85, which shall be in addition to any other registration and number plate fees. An applicant may include the symbol on any vanity number plate upon payment of the special registration plate symbol fee and the vanity plate service fee in RSA 261:89. Vanity plate service fees shall be distributed as provided in RSA 261:89 and RSA 263:52. The fees described in this section shall apply to original registrations and annual registration renewals.
IV. The department shall retain from the special registration plate symbol fees an amount as is necessary to recover any additional production and administrative costs associated with use of the symbol. The remaining funds shall be paid to the state treasurer and deposited in the highway fund established to support public safety communications infrastructure and emergency preparedness initiatives.
V. All other registration fees, permit fees, number plate fees, and special number plate fees shall be distributed as required by law. The cost of replacement number plates shall be identical to the cost of initial number plates and the revenue from replacement number plates shall be distributed in the same manner as revenue derived from initial number plates.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-3160
10/22/25
HB 1354-FN- FISCAL NOTE
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $28,000 to $55,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Restricted - Highway Fund Cost of Collections - Per the state constitution, costs associated with the collection/administration of highway fund revenue by the Department of Safety is deducted prior to funds being credited as unrestricted highway fund revenue | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill, effective January 1, 2027, creates a new plate for passenger and motorcycle style vehicles, bearing a symbol representing amateur radio operators. The plate registration fee would be $85, which after deducting production and administrative costs, shall be credited to the state highway fund. The Department of Safety estimates a one-time system change cost of approximately $25,000 and a one-time cost, for the creation of the new plate type, of $3,000 to $30,000, for a total cost of $28,000 to $55,000. Based on this estimate, it would take approximately 330 to 650 registrations of the new plate type, at $85, to recover implementation costs. Since the number of registrations cannot be predicted, this bill’s impact on highway fund revenue is indeterminable.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 10:00 am GP 234
Dec. 2, 2025: To Be Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation