SB 505-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
01/29/2026 0205s
2026 SESSION
26-2101
08/05
SENATE BILL 505-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. McConkey, Dist 3; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Rep. A. Davis, Coos 2; Rep. Ouellet, Coos 3
COMMITTEE: Ways and Means
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires applicants for guide licenses to apply to the chief of the law enforcement division of the fish and game department and repeals the fee for temporary registration of nonresidents relative to OHRVs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
01/29/2026 0205s 26-2101
08/05
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 Guide Licenses. Amend RSA 215:2 to read as follows:
215:2 Application for License; Issue.
Application for a license shall be made to the [executive director, or their designee] chief of the fish and game law enforcement division. The executive director shall prescribe rules and regulations under which such licenses shall be issued.
I. Every new applicant applying for a New Hampshire guide's license for the first time shall submit to the fish and game department a criminal history record release form, as provided by the New Hampshire division of state police, which authorizes the release of any criminal history record to the department.
II. The applicant shall submit with the release form a complete set of fingerprints taken by a qualified law enforcement agency or an authorized employee of the department of safety. In the event that the first set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, a second set of fingerprints shall be necessary in order to complete the criminal history records check. If, after 2 attempts, a set of fingerprints is invalid due to insufficient pattern, the department may, in lieu of the criminal history records check, accept police clearances from every city, town, or county where the person has lived during the past 5 years.
III. The department shall submit the criminal history records release form and fingerprint form to the division of state police which shall conduct a criminal history records check through its records and through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon completion of the records check, the division of state police shall release copies of the criminal history records to the [department] chief of the fish and game law enforcement division.
IV. The chief of the fish and game law enforcement division or their designee shall review the criminal record information prior to making a registration decision and shall maintain the confidentiality of all criminal history records received pursuant to this section.
V. The applicant shall bear the cost of a criminal history record check.
VI. For the purposes of this section, "department" means the enforcement division of the New Hampshire fish and game department.
2 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 215-A:23, V-b, relative to temporary registration fees for OHRVs for nonresidents.
II. RSA 215-A:23, VIII-a, relative to enhancements for enforcement of and compliance with certain OHRV laws.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
26-2101
2/18/26
SB 505-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-0205s)
AN ACT relative to applications for guide licenses and repealing the fee for temporary registration of nonresidents relative to OHRVs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
| |||||
Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | Fish and Game Up to $66,880 Increase Per Year
DNCR Up to $144,320 Increase Per Year | |||
Revenue Fund(s) | Restricted Fish and Game Department and Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Revenue | |||||
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, effective May 1, 2027, repeals the temporary registration for non-resident off-highway recreation vehicles (OHRVs). The Fish and Game Department assumes the intent is to charge the regular non-resident registration fee for all non-residents, regardless of their intended duration of registration. The temporary non-resident registration fee is $34, and the current regular non-resident registration fee is $61/70 to $91/$100, for two-wheel trail bike/all other OHRV, depending on whether the registrant is a member of an organized NH nonprofit OHRV club. Fee revenue is distributed as follows:
| Temporary Registration | Full Registration |
Total Fee | $34 | $91/$100 or $61/$70 |
DNCR Grant-in-Aid | $14 | $43/$52 or $13/$22 |
DNCR Admin | $10 | $17.10 |
Fish & Game | $10 | $30.90 |
It is unknown how many individuals with temporary registrations may choose to purchase full registrations after the passage of this bill (~3,200 registrations). To this extent, this bill could increase revenue to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) up to approximately $144,320 per year ($121,600 for Grant-in-Aid and $22,720 for admin), and up to approximately $66,880 to the Fish and Game Department. It is assumed that any impact would begin in FY 2028.
This bill also repeals the discretionary use of up to $25,000 of funds appropriated to the Fish and Game Department in each biennium to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies to enhance enforcement and compliance with OHRV laws in areas of the state where riding on public ways is permitted. This is not expected to result in an impact to the revenue being transferred from the registration fees nor affect the Department's ability to perform such collaboration efforts.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Fish and Game Department
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | 2026-0205s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
Jan. 29, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0205s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan. 29, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-0205s, AA, VV; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
Jan. 21, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0205s, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
Jan. 14, 2026: Hearing: 01/21/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:25 am; SC 2
Nov. 21, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 1