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HB 1837 · 2026 · House · Resources, Recreation and Development Committee

Marine patrol and boating law updates

AI-generated

relative to the New Hampshire marine patrol.

Modifies boating laws by updating penalties, increasing mooring field fees, prohibiting certain operating practices, requiring vessel display standards, and removing specified safety provisions.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 1, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill modifies boating laws by updating penalties, increasing mooring field fees, prohibiting certain operating practices, requiring vessel display standards, and removing specified safety provisions.

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

“Unless otherwise provided in statute, any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of any rule made under authority thereof, shall be fined $50 plus penalty assessment for a first offense.”
RSA 270:18
“No person shall operate a motorboat while a person is sitting on the gunwale, transom, or straddling the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway. 99:3 Public and Congregate Mooring Fields, Permit Required.”
RSA 270-D:7
“Every vessel required to be registered in this state shall display the boat fee decal under RSA 270-E:5-a and the vessel numbers issued to the vessel as part of the registration process, unless the vessel is exempt under the provisions of RSA 270-E:9.”
RSA 270-E:8
“For any subsequent offense committed during any calendar year, such person shall be fined $100 plus penalty assessment. 99:2 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom RSA 270-D:7 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:”
RSA 270:18

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. John MacDonaldRPrimeVice Chair· Municipal and County Government
  • Rep. Karel CrawfordRClerk· Transportation
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration

Also: Rep. Joseph HamblenR, Rep. Rosemarie RungD

Public testimony

4 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

75% support25% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“The NH marine patrol is already over stretched not being able to patrol smaller lakes as frequently as I feel they should and not having the ability to reply to complaints to law enforcement about law breakers.…”
— Paul Adams, Peterboroughsupports
“We are opposed to increasing taxes (so-called fees) on boating. Oppose all boating, mooring and similar lake related taxes.…”
— Ed LaCoursiere, Meredithopposes

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
  • Jan 28, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0332h16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0332hadopted
  • Feb 12, 2026HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0332hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 9, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880eadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingHouse Resources, Recreation and Development5:46:10–5:56:3910m 29slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Resources, Recreation and Development59:55–1:03:564m 1slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0332h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 12, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0332h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0332h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Mar 31, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural ResourcesWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • Apr 9, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e Adopted — voice vote
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor 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

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 38
  2. Jan 21, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2026 03:15 pm GP 228
  3. Jan 28, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/28/2026 10:00 am GP 228
  4. Jan 28, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0332h 01/28/2026 (Vote 16-0; RC) HC 6 P. 19
  5. Feb 12, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0332h: AA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
  6. Feb 12, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0332h: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
  7. Feb 12, 2026HouseReferred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 57
  8. Feb 24, 2026HouseReferral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/24/2026 HJ 5 P. 127
  9. Mar 5, 2026SenIntroduced 03/05/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 6
  10. Mar 31, 2026SenHearing: 03/31/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 12
  11. Apr 9, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 3-0; CC; SC 13
  12. Apr 9, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
  13. May 7, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/07/2026); SJ 12
  14. May 7, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-1880e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12 P. 41
  15. May 14, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  16. May 14, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 147
  17. May 28, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 05/28/2026; Chapter 99; eff.05/28/2026

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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