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, and the name of the party scaling the wood.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.

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.