Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 1477 · 2026 · House · Resources, Recreation and Development Committee

Permits for floating dock platforms

AI-generated

relative to the permitting and regulation of anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters.

Limits anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters to adjacent shorefront property owners, requires a $50 permit with identification through state police marine patrol, exempts certain government and conservation uses, and fines noncompliance.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill restricts anchored seasonal platforms on public waters to adjacent shorefront property owners, requires permits with identification and a $50 fee, exempts certain government and conservation uses, and imposes fines for noncompliance.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

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. Hope DamonDDeputy Ranking Member· Education Funding
  • Rep. Karen EbelDRanking Member· Finance Division 1

Also: Rep. Will DarbyD, Rep. Joseph HamblenR, Rep. Rosemarie RungD, Rep. David WalkerR

Public testimony

140 signed in online · 72 wrote testimony

88% support12% oppose0% neutral

ForFunds urgently needed cyanobacteria mitigation

AgainstUnnecessary tax and bureaucracy / "money grab"

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I strongly support this bill. More and more floating devices are popping up on our lakes making, possibly introducing plants and other harmful bacteria.”
— LILLIANE LEBEL, Templesupports
“Boating and navigation safety needs our support. Thank you.”
— Paul Shellito, Center Harborsupports
“All floats in state waterbodies should have permits. Also using this to fund efforts to combat Cyanobacteria impacts on our N.H. economy is an important addition.”
— Alexander Campbell, Sandwcjsupports
“This is a bad bill that selectively targets lakefront homeowners when numerous other members of the public use the public lakes, using boat launches and coming onto the lakes on a daily basis.…”
— Daniel F Weidner, Wolfeboroopposes
“I am a homeowner on Lake Sunapee. I strongly oppose this bill as an additional burden on lakefront owners whose taxes have skyrocketed in the past few years. If the lakes are supposed to be for everybody then everybody should bear the burden.…”
— James Morgan, Newburyopposes
“This is nothing more than a blatant attempt at more taxation and more bureacracy. As a lakefront owner I pay alot of real estate taxes, I pay a license fee for my boat trailer, for my boat and now you want to charge me for putting a raft in the lake for 4 months?…”
— Mitchell Harris, Sunapeeopposes

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

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2026-01-1410:00 amHouse Resources, Recreation and DevelopmentGP 228Public hearing
  • 2026-03-1310:00 amHouse Finance - Division IGP 230Public hearingrescheduled
  • 2026-03-1710:00 amHouse FinanceGP 230Public hearing
  • 2026-04-159:15 amSenate Ways and MeansSH 122-123Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Resources, Recreation and Development HJ 1 P. 22
  2. Jan 14, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/14/2026 02:30 pm GP 228
  3. Jan 14, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 01/14/2026 02:30 pm GP 228
  4. Jan 14, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0067h 01/14/2026 (Vote 11-0; RC) HC 5 P. 27
  5. Feb 5, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0067h: AA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 55
  6. Feb 5, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0067h: MA DV 284-47 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 55
  7. Feb 5, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 55
  8. Mar 13, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/13/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  9. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  10. Mar 17, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 03/17/2026 (Vote 14-11; RC)
  11. Mar 18, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  12. Mar 26, 2026HouseLay HB1477 on Table (Rep. Weyler): MF DV 169-178 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 15
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MF RC 172-180 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 15
  14. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 17
  15. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Ways and Means; SJ 7
  16. Apr 15, 2026SenHearing: 04/15/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 09:45 am; SC 13
  17. Apr 23, 2026Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 04/23/2026, Vote 3-1; SC 15
  18. Apr 23, 2026SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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