HB 629-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
7Jan2026... 2953h
2025 SESSION
25-0635
08/09
HOUSE BILL 629-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Leishman, Hills. 33; Rep. Harrington, Straf. 18; Rep. Ouellet, Coos 3
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill raises the cost of a boat decal fee and allocates the funds collected by such fees to the dam maintenance fund.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
7Jan2026... 2953h 25-0635
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subparagraph; Navigation; Harbors; Coast Survey; Vessel Registration and Numbering; Boat Fee Decal Required. Amend RSA 270-E:5-a, II by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:
(f) $5 for each decal specified in paragraph I. The fees collected under this subparagraph shall be paid into the dam maintenance fund established under RSA 482:55.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
25-0635
Revised 2/19/26
HB 629-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2025-2953h)
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $267,500 | $535,000 | $535,000 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | Dam Maintenance Fund | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $100,000 to $267,500 | Indeterminable Increase $500,000 to $702,500 | Indeterminable Increase $500,000 to $737,500 | ||
Funding Source(s) | Dam Maintenance Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill increases the boat decal fee by $5 and directs the additional revenue to the Dam Maintenance Fund, effective January 1, 2027.
The Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles states this bill will result in an increase in state revenues beginning in FY 2027 due to the $5 increase in the boat decal fee. The Department indicates that approximately 107,000 boat decals are issued annually. On a full-year basis, the additional $5 per decal is expected to generate approximately $535,000 in new revenue. Because the bill takes effect on January 1, 2027, it is assumed approximately one-half of the annual revenue, or $267,500, will be realized in FY 2027, with a full-year impact of approximately $535,000 in FY 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter. All additional revenue will be deposited into the Dam Maintenance Fund pursuant to RSA 482:55. The Department further states there will be no increase in state expenditures, as the fee increase can be implemented through existing registration systems and administrative processes, and any associated workload can be absorbed within existing resources.
The Department of Environmental Services (DES) states that any revenue deposited into the Dam Maintenance Fund will be allocated to dam safety needs identified by DES at any of the 275 state owned dams. This includes routine maintenance and operational activities, such as gate inspections, mechanical repairs, and vegetation control, as well as larger rehabilitation efforts, including dam evaluation and design, reconstruction, removal, and emergency repairs. Of the 275 state owned dams, 64 are classified as high hazard, meaning failure would likely result in loss of life. Thirty four of those 64 high hazard dams are currently classified in poor condition due to inadequate discharge capacity, excessive leakage, or structural instability. DES intends to prioritize funding for these high hazard structures, which are defined as dams where failure would likely result in the loss of human life.
The Department further states this bill would not impact revenues or expenditures to counties or local municipalities, as the Dam Maintenance Fund supports the State of New Hampshire in meeting its statutory responsibilities to maintain state owned dams, impoundments, and associated property pursuant to RSA 482:55.
Department of Safety and Department of Environmental Services
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Oct. 23, 2025 | 2025-2953h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 5, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Sept. 24, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Oct. 22, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 13, 2026: Division I Work Session: 02/20/2026 11:00 am GP 230
Jan. 21, 2026: Division I Work Session: 02/09/2026 10:00 am GP 234
Jan. 7, 2026: Referred to Finance 01/07/2026 HJ 1
Jan. 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-2953h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1
Jan. 7, 2026: Amendment # 2025-2953h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1
Oct. 23, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2953h (NT) 10/22/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 51 P. 17
Oct. 23, 2025: Executive Session: 09/24/2025 10:00 am GP 228
Aug. 25, 2025: Full Committee Work Session: 09/24/2025 10:00 am GP 228
Feb. 14, 2025: Retained in Committee
Feb. 5, 2025: Executive Session: 02/12/2025 10:15 am LOB 305
Jan. 29, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/05/2025 01:30 pm LOB 305
Jan. 16, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 3 P. 19