CHAPTER 99
HB 1837-FN - FINAL VERSION
12Feb2026... 0332h
7May2026... 1880EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2990
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1837-FN
AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire marine patrol.
SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Hamblen, Carr. 3; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill modifies boating laws by updating penalties, increasing mooring field fees, prohibiting certain operating practices, requiring vessel display standards, and removing specified safety provisions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12Feb2026... 0332h
7May2026... 1880EBA 26-2990
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the New Hampshire marine patrol.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
99:1 Penalties. Amend RSA 270:18 to read as follows:
270:18 Penalty.
I. If any person operates any boat required to be registered under RSA 270-E without registration, or violates any provision of RSA 270, or RSA 270-E, or any rule adopted by the department of safety relating to the equipment or operation of such boats, or does not exhibit, upon request, the certificate of registration of such boat to any duly authorized representative of the department, such person, and the owner of the boat if the boat is operated with his or her permission or assent, shall be guilty of a violation.
II. Unless otherwise provided in statute, any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any rule made under authority thereof, shall be fined $50 plus penalty assessment for a first offense. For any subsequent offense committed during any calendar year, such person shall be fined $100 plus penalty assessment.
99:2 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom RSA 270-D:7 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
270-D:7 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom. No person shall operate a motorboat while a person is sitting on the gunwale, transom, or straddling the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway.
99:3 Public and Congregate Mooring Fields, Permit Required. Amend RSA 270:67, I(c) to read as follows:
(c) Each public mooring field applicant shall be assessed [a] an annual mooring fee [of $25 which shall be deposited in the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a] as specified in RSA 270:62.
99:4 Public and Congregate Mooring Fields; Permit Required. Amend RSA 270:67, II(c) to read as follows:
(c) Each congregate mooring field applicant permitted by the director shall be assessed an annual mooring fee [of $25 for each mooring installed in the congregate mooring field which shall be deposited in the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a] as specified in RSA 270:62.
99:5 Display of Numbers and Decals Required. Amend RSA 270-E:8 to read as follows:
270-E:8 Display of Numbers and Decals Required.
I. Every vessel required to be registered in this state shall display the boat fee decal under RSA 270-E:5-a and the vessel numbers issued to the vessel as part of the registration process, unless the vessel is exempt under the provisions of RSA 270-E:9.
II. The owner shall paint on, attach or otherwise display to each side of the forward half of the vessel the numbers assigned by the department not less than 3 inches in height, with block letters of contrasting color, and they shall be clearly readable when the vessel is being operated. The numbers shall be maintained in legible condition. No numbers other than the numbers validly assigned to a vessel shall be painted, attached or otherwise displayed on either side of the forward half of such vessel.
III. Any person who operates a vessel on the inland or tidal and coastal waters of this state without displaying the vessel numbers, boat fee decal, or other decal required by this chapter in the manner required by this chapter, unless exempt under the provisions of RSA 270-E:9, shall be guilty of a violation for a first offense and a misdemeanor for a second offense.
99:6 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 270:46-a, relative to boat safety courses.
II. RSA 270-D:2-c, III, relative to rental boat safety checklists.
99:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: May 28, 2026
Effective Date: May 28, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 3, 2026 | 2026-0332h |
| May 13, 2026 | 2026-1880EBA |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 28, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 31, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 9, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
June 1, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/28/2026; Chapter 99; eff.05/28/2026
May 18, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 18, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 13, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12
May 13, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/07/2026); SJ 12
April 3, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
April 2, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 13
March 26, 2026: Hearing: 03/31/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 12
March 6, 2026: Introduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 6
Feb. 24, 2026: Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/24/2026 HJ 5 P. 127
Feb. 12, 2026: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
Feb. 12, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0332h: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
Feb. 12, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0332h: AA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
Feb. 3, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0332h 01/28/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 6 P. 19
Jan. 21, 2026: Executive Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 03:15 pm GP 228
Dec. 18, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 38