New Hampshire HB 1703: relative to establishing a registration fee for bicycles and electric bicycles using state or municipally funded bike paths, trails, or roadways.

Bill Text

HB 1703-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3158

 12/08

HOUSE BILL 1703-FN

AN ACT relative to establishing a registration fee for bicycles and electric bicycles using state or municipally funded bike paths, trails, or roadways.

SPONSORS: Rep. T. Walsh, Merr. 10; Rep. Hill, Merr. 2; Rep. Gorski, Hills. 2

COMMITTEE: Transportation

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes a required annual registration fee for all bicycles and electric bicycles operating on state or municipally funded paths, trails, and roadways which bicycles and electric bicycles are permitted to be ridden on. The bill also establishes a penalty for failure to register and directs funds from said fees and penalties to the commissioner of the department of transportation for the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, or trails in the state.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3158

 12/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to establishing a registration fee for bicycles and electric bicycles using state or municipally funded bike paths, trails, or roadways.

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

 1 New Section; Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 144-a the following new section:

 RSA 265:144-b Registration of Bicycles and Electric Bicycles; Penalty. All bicycles and electric bicycles, if operated on a public way shall be registered with the division of motor vehicles.

 I. For the purposes of this section:

 (a) "Bicycle" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 259:6;

 (b) "Electric bicycle" shall have the same meaning as defined in RSA 259:27-a; and

 (c) "Public way" means any state or municipally funded path, trail, or roadway which bicycles or electric bicycles are permitted to be operated on in accordance with RSA 265.

 (d) "Peace officer" means any sheriff or deputy sheriff, mayor or city marshal, constable, police officer or watchman, member of the national guard acting under orders while in active state service ordered by the governor under RSA 110-B:6, certified border patrol agent as defined in RSA 594:26, I, or other person authorized to make arrests in a criminal case.

 II. An application to the division of motor vehicles to register a bicycle or electric bicycle shall require the name and age of such applicant, proof of applicant's ownership of the bicycle or electric bicycle or their authorization from the owner to operate the bicycle or electric bicycle, and any other necessary information as determined by the director of the division of motor vehicles. The application of any person under the age of 18 years to register a bicycle or electric bicycle shall be signed by said person's parent or guardian, or in the event there is no parent or guardian, then by another responsible adult.

 III. The fee for registration of a bicycle or electric bicycle shall be $50 per year. All fees shall be collected by the division of motor vehicles and immediately transferred to the commissioner of the department of transportation to be used for the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, or trails, pursuant to RSA 230:75, XI.

 IV. Upon receipt of an application for registration of a bicycle or electric bicycle and payment of the registration fee in paragraph III, the division of motor vehicles shall issue a certificate of registration to the applicant, which shall include a registration number assigned to said bicycle or electric bicycle by the division of motor vehicles.

 (a) Every operator of a bicycle or electric bicycle shall have the certificate of registration for said bicycle or electric bicycle upon their person or the registration number permanently affixed to said bicycle or electric bicycle.

 (b) The expiration date of a certificate of registration shall be 1 year following the date of issuance of the certificate.

 V. This section shall not apply to bicycles or electric bicycles owned or operated by any peace officer wearing a distinctive uniform during the course of their duties. This section shall also not apply to pocket bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, or any other motorized vehicle not within RSA 259:27-a.

 VI. Except as otherwise provided, it is a violation for any person to operate a bicycle or electric bicycle on a public way unless said bicycle or electric bicycle maintains registered status with the division of motor vehicles, pursuant to this section. The fine for a violation of this section shall be $1