New Hampshire HB 1768: relative to gifts and donations received by the division of parks and recreation.

Bill Text

HB 1768-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

12Feb2026... 0358h

05/07/2026 1745s

2026 SESSION

 26-2926

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1768-FN

AN ACT relative to gifts and donations received by the division of parks and recreation.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bridle, Rock. 29; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. Coker, Belk. 2; Rep. Edgar, Rock. 29; Rep. McGrath, Rock. 40

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill allows the division of parks and recreation to solicit and receive monetary and in-kind donations and to acknowledge such donations through limited sponsor recognition. The bill also raises the value of individual gifts and donations that may be received by the division of parks and recreation without the approval of the governor or the executive council.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12Feb2026... 0358h

05/07/2026 1745s 26-2926

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to gifts and donations received by the division of parks and recreation.

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

 1 New Paragraph; Fees for Park System; Acceptance of Donations by Division of Parks and Recreation. Amend RSA 216-A:3-g by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph: 

 V-a.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the department of natural and cultural resources, through the division of parks and recreation, may solicit, receive, and procure monetary or in-kind donations. 

 (b) Donations received under this paragraph may be acknowledged through limited sponsor recognition, including the display of a name, logo, or identifying mark, as determined by the department, provided that such recognition is incidental to the donation, non-promotional in nature, and does not imply endorsement by the state. 

 (c) All monetary donations received under this paragraph shall be deposited in the state parks gifts and donations account established under RSA 216-A:3-o and expended in accordance with that section. 

 2 Expansion of State Park System; State Park Gifts and Donations; Account Established. Amend RSA 216-A:3-o, I to read as follows: 

 I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, individual gifts and donations not exceeding [$2,500] $50,000 in value in a fiscal year may be received by the division of parks and recreation without the approval of the governor or [the governor and] council. Individual gifts and donations exceeding [$2,500] $50,000 in value in a fiscal year may be received by the division of parks and recreation with the approval of the governor and council. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage. 

 LBA

 26-2926

 05/11/2026

HB 1768-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT # 2026-1745s)

AN ACT relative to gifts and donations received by the division of parks and recreation.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Indeterminable Increase 

(State Parks Gifts and Donations Fund)

Indeterminable Increase 

(State Parks Gifts and Donations Fund)

Indeterminable Increase 

(State Parks Gifts and Donations Fund)

 Revenue Fund(s)

State Park Fund and State Parks Gifts and Donations Fund

 Expenditures*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

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

METHODOLOGY:

This bill increases the threshold for individual gifts and donations that may be accepted by the Division of Parks and Recreation without approval of the Governor and Executive Council from $2,500 to $50,000. To the extent donors provide gifts in excess of the prior $2,500 limit, the State Parks Gifts and Donations Account established under RSA 216-A:3-o could experience an indeterminable increase in revenue ranging from $0 to $47,500 per individual gift, depending on the amount and number of donations received. 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

None