Bill > HB647

This bill modifies the existing law regarding lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for newborns in New Hampshire by removing the fixed $300 fee and instead granting the executive director of the Fish and Game Department the authority to set the fee through administrative rulemaking. Currently, the law provides discounted lifetime licenses for residents under one year old, but the bill allows the executive director to determine the actual cost annually, starting July 15th of each year, based on actuarial tables obtained from the insurance commissioner. The bill aims to provide more flexibility in pricing these licenses, with the Department anticipating that the new actuarially-determined fee will likely be significantly higher than the current $300 rate, which could potentially reduce the number of newborn licenses sold annually. As context, in 2023, the Department sold 1,092 newborn licenses at $304.50 each, generating $332,514 in revenue, compared to a lifetime license for residents aged 1-16 years that costs $1,564.80. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will impact the Fish and Game Lifetime License Fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0083&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB647