New Hampshire HB 1314: enabling minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee.

Bill Text

HB 1314-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2954

 08/06

HOUSE BILL 1314-FN

AN ACT enabling minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee.

SPONSORS: Rep. H. Howard, Straf. 4; Rep. Ankarberg, Straf. 7; Rep. Wade, Straf. 15; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. D. Germana, Ches. 1; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

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ANALYSIS

 This bill enables minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2954

 08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT enabling minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 New Section; Licenses for Minors. Amend RSA 214 by inserting after section 6-a the following new section: 

 214:6-b Licenses for Minors. Any resident of this state who is under 18 years of age may, upon presentation of proof of age, make application to the executive director of fish and game for a special license to take and to transport fish, under the restrictions of this title. Such license shall be marked in such manner as the executive director may designate and there shall be no fee for such license. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. 

 LBA

 26-2954

 11/5/25

HB 1314-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT enabling minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$235,000 Per Year Decrease

 Revenue Fund(s)

Fish and Game Fund, Fisheries Habitat Management Account

 Expenditures*

$0

Up to $20,000 to $40,000

Up to $10,000 to $30,000 

per year

 Funding Source(s)

Fish and Game Fund, Fisheries Habitat Management Account

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:

This bill enables minors to apply for a freshwater fishing application without paying a fee. The Fish and Game Department states that over the past five years, it has collected an average of approximately $235,000 per year for 16- and 17-year-old licenses. Of this revenue, the Department estimates $230,000 is credited to the Fish and Game Fund and $5,000 to the Fisheries Habitat Management Account.

Regarding expenditures, the Department states it incurs a $2 per license fee, paid to an outside vendor for producing licenses. To the extent this bill could generate additional licensees, the Department could incur additional costs ($10,000 to $30,000 per year). Lastly, the Department states it would incur, in FY 2027, a one-time new license development fee (less than $10,000).

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Fish and Game Department