Bill Text - SB594 (2026)

Eliminating the use of agitators in instances where temporary docks have been removed from bodies of water.


Revision: Nov. 24, 2025, 1:34 p.m.

SB 594-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2184

07/08

 

SENATE BILL 594-FN

 

AN ACT eliminating the use of agitators in instances where temporary docks have been removed from bodies of water.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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

 

AN ACT eliminating the use of agitators in instances where temporary docks have been removed from bodies of water.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

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.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

26-2184

10/30/25

 

SB 594-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT eliminating the use of agitators in instances where temporary docks have been removed from bodies of water.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:  

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund

None

Expenditures*

Indeterminable

Funding Source

General Fund

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill            *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

Indeterminable

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association