New Hampshire HB 1551: relative to permanent vehicle registrations.

Bill Text

HB 1551-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2800

 06/09

HOUSE BILL 1551-FN

AN ACT relative to permanent vehicle registrations.

SPONSORS: Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Morse, Merr. 3; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Giasson, Hills. 29; Sen. McGough, Dist 11

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes permanent registration for the owner of a vehicle that is 11 years old or older, sets associated fees, prohibits transfer of registration upon ownership change, and allows non-residents and entities to obtain permanent registration with residency disclaimers

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2800

 06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to permanent vehicle registrations.

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

 1 New Section; Permanent Registration; Transfer of Vehicle Ownership. Amend RSA 261 by inserting after section 182 the following new section: 

 261:183 Permanent Registration; Transfer of Vehicle Ownership. 

 I. The owner of a vehicle that is 11 years old or older, subject to the registration fee as provided in RSA 261:141, III(a) through III(s), III(v), or III(aa) through III(dd), may permanently register the vehicle upon payment of a $50 registration fee, and:

 (a) An amount equal to 3 times the fees to be collected under RSA 261:141, III;

 (b) An amount equal to 3 times the fees for registration permits under RSA 261:153 and 154, if applicable; and

 (c) An amount equal to 3 times the electric vehicle registration fees under RSA 261:141-c, if applicable.

 II. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the registration of a vehicle permanently registered under this section shall not expire.

 III. The owner of a motor vehicle that is permanently registered under this section is not subject to additional registration fees or to other motor vehicle registration fees described in this section for as long as the owner owns the vehicle.

 IV.(a) The permanent registration of a vehicle under this section may not be transferred to a new owner. If the vehicle is transferred to a new owner, the department shall cancel the vehicle’s permanent registration.

 (b) Upon transfer of a vehicle registered under this section to a new owner, the new owner shall apply for a certificate of title under RSA 261:4 and register the vehicle under RSA 261:40, and may apply for a new permanent registration under this section.

 V.(a) Notwithstanding RSA 261:45 or any other law to the contrary, a permanent registration may be granted to any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, or unincorporated association whether or not the vehicle is garaged in this state, and to any natural person whether or not they are a resident of this state.

 (b) If the person is not a resident in this state, the registration granted under this section shall not be used to establish residency as defined by RSA 21:6 or 21:6-a, nor domicile as defined by RSA 654:1. Such a registration certificate shall clearly indicate that the person is not a resident by including the phrase “NON-RESIDENT PERMANENT REGISTRATION” on the face of the certificate.

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

 LBA

 26-2800

 12/2/25

HB 1551-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to permanent vehicle registrations.

FISCAL IMPACT: 

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Decrease

 Revenue Fund(s)

Highway Fund

 Expenditures*

$0

$0

Indeterminable Decrease

 Funding Source(s)

Highway Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

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

 Local Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Decrease

 Local Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective January 1, 2027, establishes permanent registration for the owner of a vehicle that is 11 years old or older. The fee for such a registration would be $50, plus three times (3x) the amount to be collected under RSA 261:141, III (state registration), and if applicable, three times (3x) the fees for RSA 261:153-4 (municipal registration) and RSA 261-141-c (state electric vehicle registration). It is assumed that the permanent registration option would be voluntary and to the extent registrants who choose the permanent registration wo