CHAPTER 127
SB 594-FN - FINAL VERSION
2026 SESSION
26-2184
07/08
SENATE BILL 594-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Rep. Lynn, Rock. 17; Rep. L. Walsh, Rock. 15; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill eliminates the use of certain agitators in instances where temporary docks have been removed from bodies of water.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2184
07/08
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:
127:1 Navigation; Harbors; Coast Survey; Use of Aqua-Therm; Heating, Agitating, or Other Devices in Public Waters; Safety Hazard. Amend RSA 270:33 to read as follows:
270:33 Heating, Agitating, or Other Devices in Public Waters; Safety Hazard. No person shall put, place, operate, or cause to be put, placed, or operated in the waters of this state any so-called heating, agitating, or other device which inhibits or prevents the natural freezing of water, or forming of ice, and thereby impedes either the ingress or egress to or from the ice from any property other than that of the owner of the device. No person shall place or operate any aforementioned device except as necessary to protect legally existing permanent structures located adjacent to their shoreline from ice damage. [The] Any person or persons responsible for the placement of [the] a device protecting structures by impeding ice formation shall ensure that warning signs are posted to warn of its location. Said signs shall read DANGER, THIN ICE and shall be of sufficient size to be readable at a distance of not less than [150] 200 feet, and shall be visible from all directions and shall be equipped with reflectors and color-coded in a pattern unique for this purpose only. The department of safety is hereby authorized to establish said unique design and coloring and any homemade copies shall follow this design and coloring. The provisions of this section shall be enforced by any law enforcement agency under the direction of the department of safety pursuant to RSA 106-A:14 and the department of fish and game pursuant to RSA 206:26.
127:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: June 05, 2026
Effective Date: August 04, 2026
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 25, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| March 25, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 25, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
June 8, 2026: Signed by the Governor on 06/05/2026; Chapter 127; Effective 08/04/2026
May 21, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 21, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 21, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
April 23, 2026: Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 04/23/2026
April 9, 2026: Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 16
April 9, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 04/09/2026 HJ 10 P. 15
April 1, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/25/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC)
April 1, 2026: Executive Session: 03/25/2026 10:00 am GP 228
March 18, 2026: Public Hearing: 03/25/2026 11:30 am GP 228
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 5 P. 127
Feb. 12, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 11, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
Jan. 28, 2026: Hearing: 02/10/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:10 am; SC 4
Nov. 25, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 1