HB 1483-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
5Feb2026... 0163h
2026 SESSION
26-2716
04/09
HOUSE BILL 1483-FN
AN ACT creating a motor vehicle license plate for amateur radio operators.
SPONSORS: Rep. Ulery, Hills. 13
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the creation of vanity license plates and decals that identify amateur radio operators by their FCC call signs or a lightning bolt symbol.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
5Feb2026... 0163h 26-2716
04/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT creating a motor vehicle license plate for amateur radio operators.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Vanity Number Plates; Identifying Decals for Amateur Radio Operators. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 89-e the following new section:
261:89-f Vanity Registration Plates for Amateur Radio Operators.
I. The director of motor vehicles is directed to solicit designs for a vanity plate clearly identifying the owner of the vehicle to be an amateur radio operator and including the call sign of said operator who shall present Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification as a licensed radio operator upon application.
II. If the FCC-issued call sign is not displayed, the registrant may request a standard issue plate featuring a lightning bolt symbol to indicate their status as a licensed amateur radio operator.
(a) There shall be no duplication of numbers.
(b) The director is allowed to set a fee for the plates as approved by the New Hampshire house and senate ways and means committee. Separate fees may be charged on a per plate cost for the call sign plate and the electric bold style plate.
(c) A list of all such plate holders shall be made available to the New Hampshire department of safety, division of homeland security and emergency management, for the sole purpose of contact and coordination of such persons in a natural disaster or other public safety requirement. All other data is privileged per RSA 260:14-a.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer any special privileges, including but not limited to the use of emergency lights, exemption from traffic laws, or access to restricted areas, except when acting under the express direction of authorized public safety personnel.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-2716
12/1/25
HB 1483-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT creating a motor vehicle license plate for amateur radio operators.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | ||||
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 | $25,000 | $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 authorizes the creation of vanity license plates and decals that identify amateur radio
operators by their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) call signs or a lightning bolt symbol. The Department of Safety states this would require system programming changes to accommodate the new plate types and the associated eligibility verification process, at an estimated one-time cost of approximately $25,000. Vanity plates are produced on-demand, and the cost of plate production, materials, and distribution is covered by existing vanity and plate fees.
It should be noted this bill states that the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles is allowed to set a fee for the plates “as approved by the New Hampshire house and senate ways and means committee”. It is assumed this means approved separately by the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees, which is a deviation from standard practice, as similar fees are established in statute or through administrative rulemaking.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 27, 2026 | 2026-0163h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 26, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 5, 2026: Referred to Finance 02/05/2026 HJ 3
Feb. 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0163h: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3
Feb. 5, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0163h: AA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3
Jan. 27, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0163h 01/20/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 5 P. 18
Jan. 14, 2026: Executive Session: 01/20/2026 02:45 pm GP 234
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/13/2026 10:20 am GP 234
Dec. 5, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation