Legislation
NHOHVA along with our Lobbyist watch and respond to the bills that pertain to OHRVs or the Nonprofit Clubs and help protect the OHRV riding in N.H. Join a club to stay up to date and involved in the process.
Updated June 27, 2022. Scroll down to find the following:
How to find your NH State Rep. / LSRs & bills filed / The latest Legislative challenges, click on bill # for wording.
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How to search for statutory committee
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/statstudcomm/
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Search your House Representative’s by name or location at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/default.aspx
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Search your State Senator by name or location at
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/Senate/members/wml.aspx
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Find 2022 Bills & LSRs
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/default.aspx
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NH General Court
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/
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Submit testimony on any house bill scheduled here https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
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With the Legislature having completed all business for the 2022 Session, there are no updates. Governor Sununu has continued to consider all bills adopted by the House and Senate and we anticipate that he will act on all of them by early Summer.
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(2nd New Title) relative to the authority of a city or town to limit the use or operation of an OHRV on certain ways.
Rep. Andrew Renzullo
Adopted with Amendment on 03/10/2022.
Adopted with Amendment on 04/28/2022.
Conference Committee Report Adopted on 05/26/2022.
Will go to the Governor’s Desk. The Committee of Conference amendment clarifies the Senate amendment by putting the new language in its own section. As amended, keeps the current approval process in place but will allow abutters to bring proof of recreational use damages to a board of selectmen and make a request for a road closure if it makes them unable to access their land. The amendment was worked on by the NH Timberland Owners’ Association and NHOHVA.
(New Title) establishing a commission to study OHRV use in the state and clarifying certain towing statutes.
Rep. Suzanne Smith
Adopted with Amendment on 03/10/2022.
Adopted with Amendment on 04/28/2022
House Concurred with the Senate Amendment on 05/12/2022.
Will go to the Governor’s Desk. The Senate amendment clarifies one of the public members must be an abutter, clarifies the duty the commission shall look at both the impacts on the local and state economy and adds a charge to look at impacts of adding electric charging infrastructure near trail heads.
relative to hike safe cards.
Rep. James Spillane
Adopted with Amendment on 02/16/2022.
Adopted on 03/24/2022.
Signed into Law by the Governor on 05/03/2022.
Requires Fish and Game to offer discounted hike safe cards valid for one day or 5 days.
(2nd New Title) relative to online payment of fees relating to the operation of off highway recreational vehicles and snowmobiles, and relative to grants administered by the bureau of trails for OHRV trail development and maintenance.
Rep. Timothy Egan
Adopted with Amendment on 03/10/2022.
Adopted on 04/21/2022.
The House Concurred with the Senate Amendment on 05/12/2022.
Will go to the Governor’s Desk. There was no opposition to the proposed GIA amendment and the committee also pushed the online registration effective date back to September 1, 2025. House Committee removed the section of the bill related to fines which Fish and Game had concerns on. Seeks to allow for the payment of OHRV or snowmobile registration fees or any fines to be completed online.
relative to landowner liability on land authorized for outdoor recreational activities.
Rep. Linda Gould
Adopted with Amendment on 03/15/2022.
Adopted with Amendment on 04/21/2022.
Senate Judiciary
The House Concurred with the Senate Amendment on 05/12/2022.
The Senate amendment changes the definition of charge to exclude a lease for “a nominal fee” from being considered a charge for purposes of liability.
relative to prohibitions on carrying a loaded firearm on an OHRV or snowmobile.
Rep. John Burt
Bill is Enrolled.
Adopted on 03/10/2022.
Adopted on 04/28/2022.
Will go to the Governor’s Desk. Seeks to repeal the prohibition on carrying a loaded pistol or revolver on an OHRV and snowmobile.
relative to search and rescue teams activated by fish and game.
Sen. Erin Hennessey
Adopted on 02/03/2022.
Adopted on 04/21/2022.
Signed into Law by the Governor on 05/20/2022.
Excludes search and rescue teams when activated by the New Hampshire fish and game department from the definition of emergency medical service unit for the purpose of emergency medical and trauma services.
relative to the penalties for various motor vehicle violations.
Sen. John Reagan
Adopted with Amendment on 02/03/2022.
Adopted on 04/21/2022.
Signed into Law by the Governor o 05/20/2022.
Enhances penalties for certain offenses when the offense occurred simultaneously to a violation of the prohibited use of a mobile electronic device while driving.
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2021 Retained and Rereferred Legislation
repealing the prohibition against OHRV travel on Hoit Road Marsh.
Rep. Thomas Walsh
Adopted by House on 01/06/2022
Adopted by Senate on 03/31/2022.
Signed into Law by the Governor on 05/03/2022.
Repeals the prohibition on OHRV use on Hoit Road Marsh.
KILLED BILLS
relative to amending a conservation easement between the state and a landowner.
Rep. Paul Berch
House Judiciary
Killed by the House on 01/05/2022
relative to the fish and game commission.
Rep. Cathryn Harvey
House Fish and Game and Marine Resources
Killed by the House on 01/06/2022
establishing a committee to study the effects of recreational vehicles and other vehicles used in recreational activities on class 5 and 6 roads.
Rep. Andrew Renzullo
House Resources, Recreation and Development
Killed by the House on 01/05/2022
relative to local speed limits in business or urban residence districts.
Rep. Timothy Lang
House Transportation
Killed by the House on 2/16/2022.
relative to the prescribed manner of posting land.
Rep. Ellen Read
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Killed by the House on 03/15/2022.
relative to financial liability for damage caused by OHRV use of class VI roads.
Rep. Andrew Renzullo
House Resources, Recreation and Development
Killed by the House on 03/10/2022.
relative to applications for abatements and authority to abate prior years' taxes for certain homeowners.
Rep. Andrew Renzullo
House Municipal and County Government
Killed by the House on 03/17/2022.
permitting the use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles on the statewide trail system.
Rep. Keith Ammon
House Resources, Recreation and Development
Killed by the House on 03/10/2022.
establishing a safety program for off highway recreational vehicles and snowmobiles.
Rep. Timothy Egan
House Resources, Recreation and Development
Killed by the House on 03/10/2022.