HB 1752-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2953
08/07
HOUSE BILL 1752-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Nagel, Belk. 6
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the creation of a ticket to follow timber through the harvesting and production process to establish a chain of custody.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2953
08/07
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 Subdivision; Timber Harvesting; Foresting Mill Ticket Standards. Amend RSA 227-J by inserting after section 15 the following new subdivision:
Foresting Mill Ticket Standards
227-J:16 Definitions.
In this subdivision:
I. “Change of land use” means conversion of forest land following timber harvesting to a non-forest use, including but not limited to agriculture, residential development, or gravel extraction.
II. “Designated agent” means a person or company authorized by the landowner to act on the landowner’s behalf for timber harvesting activities.
III. “Director” means the director of the division of forests and lands.
IV. “Forest products” means logs, pulpwood, veneer, boltwood, chips, poles, biomass, or fuelwood, but not Christmas trees, maple syrup, nursery products, wreaths, boughs, or cones.
V. “Harvester” means a person or company that cuts or contracts to cut forest products.
VI. “Licensed forester” means a forester licensed under RSA 310-A.
VII. “Lot” means a contiguous tract of forest land under single ownership.
VIII. “Notice of intent to cut” means the notification required under RSA 79:10.
IX. “Timber harvesting” means the cutting or removing of timber primarily for sale or processing into forest products.
X. “Landing” or “yard” means the area where forest products are assembled for storage and transport.
227-J:17 Notification Required.
I. Prior to any timber harvest for commercial purposes, the landowner or designated agent shall file a notice of intent to cut under RSA 79:10 with the municipality, and provide a copy to the division of forests and lands.
II. All parties named on the notice, including the landowner, agent, forester, and harvester, shall sign the notification.
227-J:18 Large Clearcut Review.
I. Any proposed timber harvest exceeding 75 contiguous acres of clearcut shall require the submission of a harvest plan prepared by a licensed forester.
II. The plan shall ensure compliance with regeneration and erosion control standards under this chapter.
III. The division of forests and lands may require a field review prior to approval.
227-J:19 Erosion Control Certification.
Persons certified in erosion and sedimentation control by the department of environmental services may file simplified notifications for harvests of 10 acres or less, provided they are directly responsible for erosion control on the site.
227-J:20 Timber Harvesting in Protected Areas.
I. Timber harvesting or associated road or gravel pit construction in wetlands, shoreland protection zones, or other environmentally sensitive areas shall require additional permits under RSA 482-A and RSA 483-B.
II. The division of forests and lands shall coordinate with the department of environmental services to ensure compliance.
227-J:21 In-Stream Wood Placement.
I. Projects to place wood in streams for habitat enhancement shall be approved by the division of forests and lands in consultation with the fish and game department.
II. A treatment plan and site map shall be submitted with the notice of intent to cut.
227-J:22 Exemptions.
The following activities are exempt from the notification requirements of this subdivision, even if forest products are sold:
I. Removal of single trees or small groups of trees in residential or roadside settings for hazard removal, right-of-way clearance, or lot preparation of less than 2 acres.
II. Timber harvested solely for the personal use of the landowner.
227-J:23 Posting Requirement.
I. A copy of the approved notice of intent to cut or its assigned number shall be posted at the principal landing or access point to the harvest site.
II. The notice shall remain posted until completion of the harvest.
227-J:24 Applicability.
I. Except as otherwise provided, this subdivision applies to all commercial timber harvesting activities conducted within the state of New Hampshire.
II. All timber harvesting activities shall comply with applicable statutes, including but not limited to:
(a) RSA 79, relative to the timber tax and notice of intent to cut.
(b) RSA 227-G and RSA 227-J, relative to forest management and timber harvesting.
(c) RSA 482-A, relative to the fill and dredge in wetlands act.
(d) RSA 483-B, relative shoreland water quality protection act.
(e) Applicable municipal zoning and land use ordinances.
2 Deceptive Forestry Business Practices. Amend RSA 227-J:15, II to read as follows:
II. In this section, "adulterated" means varying from a standard of composition or quality prescribed by any statute providing criminal penalties for such variance, or set by established commercial usage. In this section, "mislabeled" means varying from a standard of truth or disclosure in labeling prescribed by any law providing criminal penalties for such variance, or set by established commercial usage. In this section, "scale slip" means a written or printed form or combination of forms which provide an accurate, readily understandable record containing the species of wood product, board footage of each individual log when the standard unit of measurement is per thousand board feet, or tonnage or cordage when not sold per thousand board feet, gross scale, defect, net scale, date wood was measured, information for the name of the delivery company, the name of the land owner or the land owner’s representative, and the lot number and address, and the name of the party scaling the wood.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-2953
12/15/25
HB 1752-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $130,000 to $200,000 | Indeterminable Increase $250,000 to $500,000 | Indeterminable Increase $250,000 to $500,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Water Resources Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a complete fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The Department was originally contacted on 12/12/25 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, a revised fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the creation of a ticket to follow timber through the harvesting and production process in order to establish a chain of custody. The bill creates new requirements for notices of intent to cut, establishes standards for foresting mill tickets, provides for large clearcut review, clarifies erosion control certification provisions, and requires coordination between the Division of Forests and Lands and the Department of Environmental Services when timber harvesting occurs in wetlands, shoreland protection areas, or other environmentally sensitive locations.
The Department of Environmental Services states this bill would not modify existing wetland or shoreland permitting requirements under RSA 482-A or RSA 483-B and therefore would not impact those programs. The Department indicates the primary fiscal impact would occur within the Alteration of Terrain Program, which administers RSA 485-A:17. The bill references a certification in erosion and sedimentation control; however, the Department notes that no such certification program currently exists. If the Department were required to establish a new certification program, it would need to develop standards, training materials, testing procedures, and outreach for the regulated community.
The Department states there is no fee authorized in the bill to support the proposed certification, and no existing fee would be replaced. The Department further states there are no available personnel to reassign to develop and administer a new certification and training program. To implement these requirements, the Department estimates the need for two Environmental Scientist positions (19-2040 Environmental Scientists-4, SOC19-07). The cost for these two positions, with a start date of January 1, 2027, is estimated at $128,000 in FY 2027, for a partial year, $230,000 in FY 2028, and $240,000 in FY 2029, funded through the Water Resources Fund. The Department notes that additional costs associated with developing and administering the certification program cannot be estimated.
This bill does not provide funding nor does it authorize positions. If positions are funded and authorized it is assumed the cost for FY 2028 and FY 2029 would be included in the Departments FY 2028 and FY 2029 budget request.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Environmental Services
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 01:45 pm GP 228
Dec. 17, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1