New Hampshire HB 1833: creating a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments.

Bill Text

HB 1833-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2026... 0700h

2026 SESSION

 26-2886

 08/06

HOUSE BILL 1833-FN

AN ACT creating a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bridle, Rock. 29; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40; Rep. Porcelli, Rock. 19; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

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ANALYSIS

 This bill creates a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2026... 0700h 26-2886

 08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT creating a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments.

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

 1 New Section; Nonresident Special Tuna License. Amend RSA 211 by inserting after section 49-e the following new section: 

 211:49-f Nonresident Special Tuna License. 

 I. Any person who does not qualify as a resident under RSA 207:1, who takes, possesses, lands, or transports, as part of a tuna tournament, from or on the waters of this state, regardless of where the catch was taken, any tuna species by any method for the purpose of selling the same, shall first procure a valid license from the executive director to do so. A special tuna license shall be issued to a nonresident operator of the vessel who is a registered participant in a tuna tournament that is sponsored and operated by a nonprofit association that has existed for at least one year prior to the tournament. An individual shall not be issued more than one license per one eligible tuna tournament in any one calendar year. This license shall only be valid for the dates of the eligible tuna tournament, not to exceed 10 days. No other marine species may be taken, possessed, landed, or transported for the purpose of sale under this license. 

 II. The fee for an annual license shall be set by the executive director pursuant to RSA 206:10, I. The executive director shall establish a surcharge on each license issued under this section of not more than $25, nor less than $10, to be deposited in the derelict fishing gear and coastal cleanup fund established in RSA 211:77 and shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A for implementing and collecting the surcharge. Any person who satisfactorily demonstrates to the executive director that he or she is participating in a coastal cleanup program shall not be required to pay the surcharge. The executive director shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A to determine what constitutes satisfactory participation in a coastal cleanup program and to account for licensees who are exempt from the surcharge each year. 

 III. Licensees shall be responsible for conducting their fishing activities in compliance with rules adopted by the executive director under RSA 541-A. 

 IV. Any person so licensed shall furnish to the executive director such information concerning marine species and fishing activities as the executive director may require by rules adopted under RSA 541-A. 

 V. Any person convicted of violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person. In addition, the defendant's catch shall be confiscated and sold according to rules adopted by the executive director pursuant to RSA 541-A, the proceeds of such sale shall become the property of the New Hampshire fish and game department. 

 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 

 LBA

 26-2886

 03/19/2026

HB 1833-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0700h)

AN ACT creating a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

Indeterminable

 Revenue Fund

Derelict Fishing Gear and Coastal Cleanup Fund

 Expenditures*

$0

Fish and Game System Costs - 

$15,000 to $25,000 in FY 2027

Criminal Penalty Related Costs - Indeterminable

 Funding Source

Fish and Game Fund, General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Funding Source

None

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

 Estimated Political Subdivision Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 County Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 County Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

 Local Revenue

$0 

$0 

$0 

$0 

 Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

METHODOLO