CHAPTER 137
SB 505-FN - FINAL VERSION
01/29/2026 0205s
23Apr2026... 1336h
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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
23Apr2026... 1336h 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:
137:1 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 within the law enforcement division of the department 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.
137:2 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.
137:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect November 1, 2026.
Approved: June 12, 2026
Effective Date: November 01, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | 2026-0205s |
| April 14, 2026 | 2026-1336h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 21, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 22, 2026: Signed by the Governor on 06/12/2026; Chapter 137; Effective 11/01/2026
May 28, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
May 28, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/21/2026); SJ 14
May 28, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 7, 2026: Sen. Lang Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 23, 2026: Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 74
April 23, 2026: Referred to Ways and Means 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 55
April 23, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1336h: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 55
April 23, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1336h: AA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 55
April 15, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1336h 04/08/2026 (Vote 12-0; RC)
April 15, 2026: Executive Session: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 153
April 1, 2026: Public Hearing: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 153
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 5 P. 124
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