HB 573 · 2025 · House · Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee
Fish and game search-rescue funding
AI-generatedrelative to the funding for search and rescue operations of the fish and game department and making an appropriation therefor.
Directs general funds to support fish and game search and rescue operations, authorizes the department to solicit and collect donations through new technology, and appropriates funds for that purpose.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 13, 2025- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill provides that general funds shall be used for funding search and rescue operations of the fish and game department and authorizes the executive director of fish and game to invest in technology necessary to enable the solicitation and collection of donations. Such funds collected shall be credited to the fish and game search and rescue fund. This bill also makes an appropriation to the fish and game department to purchase technology necessary to enable the solicitation and collection of donations.
From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.
In the bill's words
Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site
“The additional fee of $1 collected under the provisions of RSA 270-E:5, II(b) for each private boat registered, under RSA 215-A:23, X for each OHRV registered, and under RSA 215-C:39, XI for each snowmobile registered, shall be paid over to the state treasurer who shall keep such fees in a special fund to be expended by the fish and game department for use in search and rescue operations.”
“In addition to the funds in paragraph I, the state treasurer shall credit up to $200,000 annually from the general fund into the fish and game search and rescue fund.”
“If the executive director determines that funds provided in paragraphs I and II are insufficient to pay for search and rescue operations activities in a fiscal year, the executive director shall certify the amount of the insufficiency to the state treasurer who shall pay such sum as necessary to fund search and rescue operations activities from the general fund.”
“The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for such sum under this paragraph out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
Sen. David WattersD
Public testimony
34 signed in online · 9 wrote testimony
88% support12% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I strongly support this bill to increase funding for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Search and Rescue Operations.…”
“It’s vital that we create a sustainable funding source for search & rescue operations without straining NHFG’s budget and taking resources away from important wildlife work. This bill is a step in the right direction.”
“I support this bill that would grant NHFG additional resources for Search and Rescue efforts.”
“The burden of search and rescue costs should be upon the one who needed the rescuing, not the taxpayers of the State of NH. This bill is allowing for the risky actions of a few to increase the burden of the many.…”
“Search and rescue operations should be billed at cost to the users; users of Fish & Game search and rescue have put themselves in jeopardy, not comparable to normal ambulance services (which get billed back anyway)”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Feb 12, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendarCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate14–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 13, 2025HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Fish and Game and Marine Resources1:33:46–1:35:251m 39slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Public Hearing; Executive Session
- Mar 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 3 P. 17
- Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 12:30 pm LOB 307
- Feb 12, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/12/2025 12:30 pm LOB 307
- Feb 12, 2025House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/12/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC)
- Mar 13, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/13/2025 HJ 8 P. 13
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.