HB 1768-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2926
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1768-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Bridle, Rock. 29; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 29; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes that honorably discharged New Hampshire veterans are exempt from day-use and metered parking fees at state parks upon presenting acceptable proof of status.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2926
06/08
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 Paragraph; Fees for Park System. Amend RSA 216-A:3-g by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
V-a.(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, except paragraph II, no New Hampshire resident who has been honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces shall be charged a fee for admission to day-use areas of the state park system.
(b) No metered parking fee shall be charged at any state park lot, including but not limited to Hampton Beach South and Wallis Sands, for any vehicle displaying a veteran license plate issued by the New Hampshire division of motor vehicles.
(c) Satisfactory proof of honorable discharge may include, but is not limited to, a veteran license plate, a DD-214 form, or other documentation recognized by the division of motor vehicles or the department of natural and cultural resources.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2926
Revised 1/5/26
HB 1768-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease ($200,000 to $450,000) | Indeterminable Decrease ($200,000 to $450,000) | Indeterminable Decrease ($200,000 to $450,000) | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | State Park Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill exempts honorably discharged New Hampshire resident veterans from state park day use admission fees and exempts vehicles displaying a New Hampshire veteran license plate from metered parking fees at state parks.
The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources states this bill would reduce revenues to the State Park Fund beginning in FY 2027. The Department, during the 2025 operating season, generated $5,178,239 in state park day use fees and $3,083,467 in parking meter fees, for total combined revenues of $8,261,706. Based on data published by New Hampshire Employment Security, approximately 7% of New Hampshire residents are veterans. Because the Department does not track either the residency or veteran status of park visitors, it assumed that between 33% and 75% of park visitors are New Hampshire residents, and that 7% of those residents would qualify for the exemption.
Using those assumptions, the Department estimates the annual revenue loss for a full operating season would range from approximately $190,845 to $433,740.
Assumed Share of NH Resident Visitors | Estimated Annual Revenue Loss |
33% of visitors | $190,845 |
50% of visitors | $289,160 |
66% of visitors | $381,691 |
75% of visitors | $433,740 |
The Department states this bill would not increase state expenditures and would not require additional staff.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | House | Hearing |
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 02:30 pm GP 228
Dec. 17, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1