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SB 511 · 2026 · Senate · Ways and Means Committee

Resident discounts on state park fees

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to state park fee discounts for state residents.

Requires state park entry fees for New Hampshire residents to be set at no more than half the nonresident rate, allows separate fee schedules for specific uses, and permits discounted or waived rates for veterans and school or student groups.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires the commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources to set state park entry fees for New Hampshire residents at no more than 50 percent of the fees charged to nonresidents. II. Allows separate fee schedules for specific uses within state parks. III. Permits discounted or waived rates for veterans and school or student groups.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“Fees for the use of park areas shall be designed to recover a reasonable portion of budget expenses consistent with the purposes of RSA 216-A:1 and 216-A:3.”
Section 1
“Provided, however, that fees charged to New Hampshire residents to enter state parks collected via a website or by a person stationed within the park shall be no more than 50 percent of the entry fees charged to nonresidents.”
Section 1
“Residency may be indicated by state-issued identification, utility or tax bills, vehicle registrations, student identification, or vehicle license plates.”
Section 1
“The commissioner, or his or her designee, may also provide discounted or waived rates for veterans, as well as for school or student groups, in recognition of their service or educational purpose.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Keith MurphyRPrimeVice Chair· Ways and Means
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education
  • Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR

Public testimony

9 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

78% support22% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Testimony in Opposition to SB 511-FN An Act Relative to State Park Fees for State Residents To the Honorable Members of the Committee, I respectfully submit this testimony in opposition to SB 511-FN.…”
— MATTHEW RHODES, Unityopposes

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 29, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jan 29, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1032s7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1032sadopted
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1032sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 6, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate12–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Ways and Means44:50–48:043m 14slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Jan 29, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1032s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1032s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1032s — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 23, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means2:03:03–2:04:121m 9slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Ways and Means47:44–52:204m 36slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor 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

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 1
  2. Jan 21, 2026SenHearing: 01/21/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:45 am; SC 2
  3. Jan 29, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 01/29/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 3
  4. Jan 29, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 01/29/2026; SJ 2
  5. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1032s, 03/12/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 9
  6. Mar 12, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1032s, AA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  7. Mar 12, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1032s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
  8. Mar 12, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Ways and Means HJ 8 P. 114
  9. Mar 23, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 03/23/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  10. Apr 6, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/06/2026 10:00 am GP 159
  11. Apr 6, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/06/2026 10:45 am GP 159
  12. Apr 6, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/06/2026 (Vote 12-0; CC)
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 15

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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