HB 647 · 2025 · House · Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee

Newborn lifetime hunting license fee

relative to the fee for a newborn lifetime hunting and fishing license.

Allows the director of the fish and game department to set by rule the fee for a lifetime hunting and fishing license issued to a newborn.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 11, 2025

✓Introduced
✓House
✓Senate
✓Governor
✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows the director of the fish and game commission to set the rate for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for newborns through regulations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“In addition further, the executive director may issue discounted lifetime licenses to residents who have not yet reached their first birthday.”

Section 78:1

“The executive director shall obtain an actuarial table based on an appropriate annuity from the commissioner of insurance and shall set the fee for the various licenses, including newborns, annually on July 15 of each year for the following year based on the age of the applicant.”

Section 78:2

“The executive director shall establish the discounted amount of such lifetime licenses in rules adopted under RSA 541-A, except that the fee for a combination hunting and freshwater fishing lifetime license for a resident who has not yet reached his or her first birthday shall be [$300] set by the executive director as prescribed in paragraph II.”

Section 78:1

“The fee for any applicant under 16 years of age shall be the same as the fee for a 16-year-old applicant, except for newborns [as provided in subparagraph I(b)(2)] which shall be set by the executive director.”

Section 78:2

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Public testimony

11 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

36% support64% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Good evening, I am writing to oppose HB647, relative to the fee for a newborn hunting and fishing license.…”

— Samuel Rafter, Doveropposes

“I am writing to oppose HB647, relative to the fee for a newborn hunting and fishing license. If this bill is passed, newborn licenses would be priced in the same manner as every other age group.…”

— Kathy Jencso, Doveropposes

“I oppose HB647, relative to the fee for a newborn hunting and fishing license. If passed, newborn licenses would be priced in the same manner as every other age group. The 1-16 year old age group is significantly more expensive than the price for a newborn license.…”

— Steven D Jencso, Doveropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay

Starting text: Bill as introduced

Feb 5, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
Overall
100% yea
Feb 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
Overall
100% yea
May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218eadopted
May 8, 2025HouseVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218eadopted
May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

Feb 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Fish and Game and Marine Resources4:31:28–4:45:4614m 18slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Public Hearing; Executive Session
Feb 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
Apr 16, 2025Public hearingSenate Ways and Means45:45–50:344m 49slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
May 8, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218e — adopted, voice vote
May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218e Adopted — voice vote
May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled 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. 21
Feb 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/05/2025 01:30 pm LOB 307
Feb 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/05/2025 01:30 pm LOB 307
Feb 5, 2025House: Ought to Pass 02/05/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 12 P. 7
Feb 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6 P. 7
Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 7
Apr 16, 2025SenHearing: 04/16/2025, Room 100, SH, 09:15 am; SC 16
May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/01/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19
May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
May 15, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/15/2025); SJ 14
May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2218e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 62
May 22, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/22/2025); SJ 15
May 22, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
Jun 10, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 06/10/2025; Chapter 78; eff.07/10/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.