Bill > HB202

This bill modifies the roles and responsibilities of the Fish and Game Department and its commission in New Hampshire, primarily shifting decision-making power from the commission to the executive director while still maintaining the commission in an advisory capacity. The bill changes numerous sections of state law to replace language requiring commission "consent" or "approval" with language requiring commission "advice" or consultation. Key changes include giving the executive director more direct authority in areas such as setting hunting and fishing seasons, managing wildlife populations, establishing permit systems, and expending funds from various accounts like the wildlife legacy initiative and game management account. The bill restructures the department's organizational structure by emphasizing the executive director's role while preserving the commission's input as a citizen advisory body. This effectively transitions the Fish and Game Commission from a governing body to a more consultative role, streamlining decision-making processes within the department and providing the executive director with more direct operational control over fish, wildlife, and marine resource management.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0041&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB202