HB 1045 · 2026 · House · Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee
Hunting with lights at night
AI-generatedrelative to hunting with lights at night.
Clarifies when lights may be used while hunting or engaging in other outdoor activities at night.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 11, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕House
- Senate
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill clarifies when lights may be used while hunting or engaging in other outdoor activities.
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 mere operation of a motor vehicle on a public or private roadway using fixed forward-facing lights, including headlights, fog lights, or auxiliary driving lights, in a manner consistent with normal driving behavior, shall not be considered a violation of this paragraph.”
“Nor shall incidental use of alley lights, reversing lights, scene lights, or other similar lights as part of a reasonably typical vehicular maneuver be considered a violation of this paragraph.”
“Any person convicted of illegal night hunting shall forfeit such firearms, lights, or any other equipment used or usable in the illegal night hunting at the time of such offense.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Rep. James SpillaneRChair· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
- Rep. Sayra DeVitoRClerk· Fish and Game and Marine Resources
- Rep. Robert WherryRChair· Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy
- Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
Also: Rep. Jonathan SmithR, Rep. Samuel FarringtonR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR, Rep. Michael GrangerR
Public testimony
15 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony
67% support33% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“I like what our Conservation Officers do, but discretion and separating legitimate day to day activity from something they may have enforcement authority over has never been their strong suit.…”
“Night hunting with lights raises serious safety, ethical, and wildlife management concerns.”
“While I understand the spirit of this legislation, I do not support this as written. I ask the Committee to oppose HB1045”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Mar 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate14–0Overall100% yea
- Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Feb 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Fish and Game and Marine Resources45:28–46:591m 31slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Mar 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Fish and Game and Marine Resources19:42–23:383m 56slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Mar 11, 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
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 1 P. 3
- Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/03/2026 10:45 am SH Reps Hall
- Feb 25, 2026House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 02/25/2026 10:00 am GP 153
- Mar 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2026 10:00 am GP 153
- Mar 4, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 03/04/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 10 P. 21
- Mar 11, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 45
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.