Legislative proposals now being considered
Links to more information will be posted
as it becomes available on the
NH General Court website. Please note -- the following is not
a complete listing of bills related to N.H. Fish and Game. Some
bills and hearings are noted, but for the latest schedule (posted
on Fridays), visit NH
House Calendar and NH
Senate Calendar and check the committee schedule (House
Fish and Game; Senate Wildlife, F&G; Ways and Means; Finance,
etc.).
Updated June 8, 2007
| LSR or bill number |
Description of legislation |
Estimated potential annual
revenue
|
|
SB
191
|
This bill was
passed by
the SENATE WILDLIFE, FISH AND GAME committee and the
full Senate. The Senate FINANCE committee
then amended the bill
to raise the existing appropriation by $1, to a total
of $50,001
for the Nongame Program. While they did not
support additional funding through SB 191, the Committee stated
that they would take another look at the issue when working on the
full budget bill. The House FISH AND GAME committee restored the bill
to include the full $300,000. The bill was passed by
the House FISH AND GAME committee and the full House, then voted Inexpedient to Legislate by the House Finance Committee. SB 191 was "pulled" from the consent calendar and tabled by the full House on June 6.
|
Increase the General Fund contribution for the Nongame
and Endangered Wildlife Program from $50,000 to $350,000,
to provide a required match for federal funds.
Sponsor: Sen. Harold Janeway, D-Webster
Click for related news: NHFG
Eligible to Receive $607,549 in Federal Funds to Conserve
Nongame Wildlife |
$300,000
(does not include existing $50,000 commitment)
|
|
HB 527
|
|
A HOUSE FISH & GAME Committee hearing
on 3/14/07
resulted in this bill being Retained for
consideration in 2008.
|
Establish a saltwater license. This proposal
would generate new license dollars, providing user funding for
Fish and Game's management of marine resources. In addition,
it would help Fish and Gameidentify saltwater anglers, something
now required by the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act. The proposal
would be reciprocal in nature (any state saltwater recreational
fishing license would be honored by adjoining states and federal
waters) and address the concerns of party or charter boat owners.
As with freshwater fishing licenses, marine recreational licenses
could be purchased online, and a one-day license option is being
considered. (Click
for Investing in Marine Fisheries; why N.H is proposing a
saltwater license)
Sponsor: Rep. Dennis F. Abbott, Rock 12
|
$1 million |
SB255-FN-A
|
|
The
Senate Wildlife, Fish & Game
Committee voted Ought to Pass on 3/14/07.
Full Senate voted Inexpedient to Legislate on 3/22/07.
|
Requiring non-motorized vessels to display conservation
decals issued by the Fish and Game Department. Requiring
a conservation decal for canoes and kayaks used on inland
and coastal waters would broaden the base of people who help
pay for maintaining access opportunities to all our public
waters. Funds raised would also support wildlife management
activities and wildlife viewing and education programs.
Sponsors: Sen. John S. Barnes Jr. (r); Sen. John T. Gallus
(r); Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (d)
|
$1.5 million |
|
HB
433
|
|
This bill
passed in
the House Fish &
Game Committee. The House
FINANCE (DIVISION II) subcommittee recommended
this for incorporation into the budget. Then, House
FINANCE voted Inexpedient to Legislate.
|
Provide $200,000 in General Fund dollars to fully pay
program expenses for Search and Rescue operations.
Fish and Game currently gets funds for search and rescue through
a $1 surcharge on each private boat, OHRV and snowmobile registration.
On average, this annual revenue is $190,000, but the cost of
search and rescue is $220,000. About 89% of the missions involve
people who do not contribute to the search and rescue fund through
their registrations.
Rep. David L. Smith, Hills 22; Rep. Dennis Reed, Merr 02;
Rep. Vincent E. Greco, Merr 07 |
$200,000 |
|
HB498-FN-A
|
| This bill was passed with
amendment by the House RESOURCES, RECREATION
AND DEVELOPMENT committee in February. It traveled through many committees and was voted Ought to Pass by Senate FINANCE on May 31. |
Dedicate certain OHRV and snowmobile unrefunded road
rolls to the Fish and Game Department to support
Fish and Game's OHRV and snowmobile registration, enforcement
and safety education program. Currently, the unrefunded portion
of the road toll (gas tax) from OHRVs and snowmobiles goes
to the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development
(DRED) Trails Bureau, based on average number of gallons of
gas consumed of 50 gallons per year. (These funds are the
tax that has been applied to gas purchased for OHRVs, but
which are entitled to a refund since they are not for on-road
use. Most OHRV users do not apply for this refund.) Currently
these funds are dedicated to the Bureau of Trails, based on
an annual average estimated purchase of 50 gallons per registered
OHRV and snowmobile. The bill would have increased the estimated
average to 150 gallons to be equally split between Fish and
Game and the Bureau of Trails. AMENDMENT: The committee
amended the estimate to 100 gallons per registered OHRV and
snowmobile. The net effect is that the amount of funds dedicated
to the Bureau of Trails is unchanged and Fish and Game would
receive an equal amount. The amendment also reaffirms that
the funds shall be non-lapsing.
Rep. Dennis Reed, Merr 02; Rep. Robert L’Heureux,
Hills 19;Rep. Gene G Chandler, Carr 01; Rep. Jim Ryan, Merr
02; Rep. Eric G Stohl, Coos 01
|
Original bill: $970,000
|
| Various bills |
| This bill was passed with
amendment by the House
FISH AND GAME and WAYS AND MEANS committees and was
voted Ought to Pass by House FINANCE. The Senate passed it by "Third Reading Resolution" on May 24. |
HB
623-FN -- Combine the
black bear, moose, turkey and waterfowl fees
into a single dedicated Game Management Account which would
fund all current activities, reduce administrative overhead
and contribute to the Fish and Game fund.
| These bills passed the House
FISH AND GAME committee, was Retained by
HOUSE WAYS AND
MEANS committee in March, and moved into House Bill 2. |
HB
570-FN-A and part of HB
576-FN-A -- Increasing the fee for a wild turkey hunting
license. Create one fall and spring turkey license with
a resident fee of $15 and $30 for nonresidents.
| This bill passed the
House with amendment and was heard by the Senate WILDLIFE,
FISH AND GAME committee on April 11 and passed by "Third Reading Resolution" on May 24. The House concurred with the Senate on May 31. |
HB
590-FN -- Convert the migratory bird (waterfowl) stamp
to a license, thereby eliminating a portion of the administrative
costs associated with this program
| This bill was voted Inexpedient
to Legislate by the HOUSE FISH AND GAME committee.
|
HB
871-FN-A -- Allowing Fish and Game to conduct an annual
auction of 3 moose permits. (click
for status and schedule) (click
for bill text)
|
$400,000 |
|
HB
248
|
| This bill passed the
HOUSE FISH AND GAME Committee with amendment. It was
heard by Senate WILDLIFE, FISH AND GAME on April 11 and passed by "Third Reading Resolution" on May 24. |
To eliminate a separate dedicated account for the trapping
education program and transfer the sum into the
fish and game fund.
|
N/A |
|
HB
376
|
|
This bill was voted Inexpedient
to Legislate by the HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
Committee.
|
Dedicate a portion of the Rooms and Meals Tax to
fish and wildlife conservation. In New Hampshire,
there is an 8% tax assessed upon patrons of hotels and
restaurants. After the Department of Revenue Administration
covers its costs, 40% of the revenue goes to municipalities
and60% goes to the General Fund. In 2005, the total Rooms
and Meals tax revenue disbursed to the General Fund was
$115 million. Based on the 2001 survey, 7.4% of this total,
about $8.5 million, can be attributed to hunting, angling
and wildlife-related recreation. Fish and Game is proposing
torequest a small portion -- 4% of those dollars currently
disbursed to the General Fund -- for a total of $4.6 million
dollars.
Sponsors: Rep. D. Smith, Hills 22; Rep. Phinizy,
Sull 5; Rep.L’Heureux, Hills 19; Sen. Gallus,
Dist 1
|
$4.6 million |
|
