HB 1682-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3112
06/09
HOUSE BILL 1682-FN
AN ACT relative to registration and road access for low-capacity and low-weight battery-operated vehicles.
SPONSORS: Rep. Almy, Graf. 17; Rep. Janigian, Rock. 25; Rep. Cloutier, Sull. 6; Rep. Milz, Rock. 13
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes registration surcharges for small battery-operated vehicles and exempts motorized electric-powered vehicles used exclusively off-road from registration requirements.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3112
06/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to registration and road access for low-capacity and low-weight battery-operated vehicles.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Electric Vehicle Registration Fee. Amend RSA 261:141-c to read as follows:
261:141-c Electric Vehicle Registration Fee to be Collected; Exemptions.
I. Battery electric vehicles, as defined in RSA 236:132, I, shall be assessed a surcharge of $100 on annual registration, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as defined in RSA 236:132, V shall be assessed a surcharged of $50, to be deposited in the highway fund.
I-a. Small battery-operated vehicles shall be assessed a surcharge of $20 on annual registration for municipal on-road use if their dry weight is under 400 pounds, and $30 for public road use other than highways if dry weight is between 401 and 1,000 pounds. The fee for municipal on-road use shall be paid to the resident’s municipality.
I-b. The department of safety, division of motor vehicles shall determine necessary procedures for determining vehicles subject to this surcharge.
II. The division of motor vehicles and the department of transportation shall report annually on or before January 1 of each year to the New Hampshire transportation council, speaker, president, and chairs of house and senate transportation committees on the state surcharge revenue.
III. Motorized electric-powered vehicles, including motor bicycles, mopeds, and similar devices, that are capable of speeds greater than 15 miles per hour and weigh less than 400 pounds shall be registered to operate on municipal roads, upon payment of the fee established in this section. Notwithstanding RSA 261:40 or any other provision of law to the contrary, motorized electric-powered vehicles used exclusively off-road shall not be required to be registered under this chapter.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
26-3112
12/2/25
HB 1682-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to registration and road access for low-capacity and low-weight battery-operated vehicles.
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 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | Highway Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $45,000 to $100,000 | Department of Safety Costs $10,000 to $100,000 Per Year
Apportionment A Payments Indeterminable Increase | |||
Funding Source(s) | Highway Fund and 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 | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Local Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes registration surcharges for small battery-operated vehicles of $20 and $30 depending on vehicle weight, with proceeds paid to the resident’s municipality. The Department has identified the following potential cost impacts of this bill:
Ultimately, the Department states that the impact on state expenditures as a result of this bill is indeterminable, however it would range from $45,000 to $100,000 in FY 2027 and $10,000 to $100,000 in FY 2028 and beyond.
This bill directs revenue from the $20 annual registration for municipal on-road (<400 lbs) to municipalities and is silent on revenue from the $30 annual registration for public road use other than highways (401-1,000 lbs), which is assumed would be credited to the state highway fund. The Department has provided no estimates as to how many vehicles may be registered as a result of this bill, therefore, this bill’s impact on state and local revenue is indeterminable. Also, pursuant to RSA 235:23 (“Apportionment A”), 12 percent of highway fund road toll and motor vehicle fee revenue collected is distributed to municipalities in the year following collection. Therefore, this bill would also increase state expenditures and local revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2028 and beyond.
The Department notes that this bill’s effective date of July 1, 2026, would not provide adequate time for it to make the necessary changes to implement this bill. Typically, bills impacting vehicle registrations would be effective January 1.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 26, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 10, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
Feb. 5, 2026: Executive Session: 02/10/2026 10:00 am GP 234
Jan. 21, 2026: ==ROOM CHANGE== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 01:00 pm GP 232
Jan. 14, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/20/2026 02:00 pm GP 234
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Transportation HJ 1