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***LEGISLATIVE ALERT***

We are calling all sportsmen and sportswomen who enjoy hunting, fishing and trapping in this great state of NH to make their way to the state house Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 starting at 9:20am.  The NHWF annual meeting had four priority bills that we are testifying on, three of these bills we be heard on Tuesday the 18th.  The Anti Hunters will be there in large numbers it is our turn to show them that we will go to great lengths to protect these valued traditions.  Please spread the word and make sure our voices are heard.
These three bills will be heard on Tuesday February 18th, 2020:
HB 1115 – relative to the discharge of a firearm in the compact part of a city or town – 11:00 am LOB 301

HB 1504 – establishing a committee to study prohibiting recreational trapping – 2:00 pm LOB 305-307

SB 588 – relative to wanton waste of an animal and prohibiting wildlife killing contests – 9:20 am State House Room 103
 
 
Please contact us with any questions.
***LEGISLATIVE ALERT***
PUBLIC HEARING ON HOUSE BILL 1571 SCHEDULED
THIS IS LEGISLATION LOOKING TO PUT ANTI-HUNTERS ON THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

The commission has been in existence since around 1933 and has successfully governed hunting, fishing and trapping during their tenure.   The Anti’s are looking to have the board consist of individuals who do not value these traditions. Our wildlife and habitats have thrived under this leadership please take time out of our busy day to join us as we fight to protect our valued traditions.

We need your help to be successful in blocking this bill.
Please join us in testifying in opposition at the hearing on Tuesday February 4th at 2:00 pm in room 210 of the Legislative Office Building located at 33 N State St, Concord, NH 03301.
 
If you cannot join us, you can help by calling or emailing the committee at HouseFishandGameCommittee@leg.state.nh.us
Let them know that you are opposed to the bill and want the Fish and Game Commission to remain as it is.
​
New Hampshire Wildlife Federation
2020 Legislation

Bill:
HB 1108

Title:
relative to the methods of taking turkey during youth turkey hunt weekend.

Sponsor:
Rep. James Spillane

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would allow the use of a .410 caliber shotgun to take wild turkey during the youth turkey hunt weekend.


Bill:
HB 1115

Title:
relative to the discharge of a firearm in the compact part of a city or town.

Sponsor:
Rep. David Doherty

Committee:
Municipal and County Government

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Bill would broaden the definition of where a firearm discharge is prohibited in a compact area.


Bill:
HB 1117

Title:
relative to penalties for dog theft and tampering with a dog's radio collar.

Sponsor:
Rep. Brian Sullivan

Committee:
Environment and Agriculture

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would criminalize the tampering or removal of radio collars and microcrips on dogs.

Bill:
HB 1156

Title:
establishing a committee to study minimizing the use of public roads in the ohrv trail system known as ride the wilds in coos county.

Sponsor:
Rep. Jack Flanagan

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Study committee looks to increase off road trail options to reduce the need for on road connectors.

Bill:
HB 1165

Title:
prohibiting atvs on a rail trail in gorham.

Sponsor:
Rep. Wendy Thomas

Committee:
Resources, Recreation and Development

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would block OHRV use of a major rail trail in Gorham. Subject of current court case headed to trial in early 2020.


Bill:
HB 1213

Title:
repealing the prohibition on hunting with a ferret.

Sponsor:
Rep. Max Abramson

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Removes the prohibition on hunting with a ferret.


Bill:
HB 1220

Title:
relative to disabled veterans fishing and hunting licenses.

Sponsor:
Rep. Glen Aldrich

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would entitle a veteran who is at least 60 percent disabled as a result of a service-connected disability to a lifetime, free hunting, fishing, bow and arrow, or combination license.


Bill:
HB 1267

Title:
relative to the liability of directors and officers of New Hampshire nonprofit corporations.

Sponsor:
Rep. Karen Ebel

Committee:
Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Attempts to shift the limitations on liability of directors and officers of nonprofit corporations. Current law allows for the articles of agreement to contain provisions eliminating or limiting personal liability for monetary damages. The legislation would require the articles of agreement to expressly state any liability beyond criminal actions. Otherwise, the person would not have liability.


Bill:
HB 1316

Title:
relative to ohrv trails known as "ride the wilds."

Sponsor:
Rep. Jack Flanagan

Committee:
Resources, Recreation and Development

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would open a trail in Nash Stream Forest to OHRV use.

Bill:
HB 1339

Title:
relative to damage to crops or livestock done by animals.

Sponsor:
Rep. Howard Pearl

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would remove certain requirements on damage caused by wild animals on farms before a person may kill such wild animal without a permit.

Bill:
HB 1389

Title:
relative to criminal penalties for not providing adequate food, water, and shelter for animals.

Sponsor:
Rep. Katherine Rogers

Committee:
Environment and Agriculture

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Defines adequate food, water and shelter for animals. Creates penalties for failure to meet the standards.

Bill:
HB 1426

Title:
requiring an off highway recreational vehicle club to have certain tests performed on a rail trail prior to use as an ohrv trail.

Sponsor:
Rep. Wendy Thomas

Committee:
Resources, Recreation and Development

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require OHRV clubs to pay for a large number of health and environmental tests before opening a rail trail for OHRV use.


Bill:
HB 1427

Title:
removing the authorization for ohrv use on certain sections of state highway.

Sponsor:
Rep. Wendy Thomas

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would close state trail connectors including part of Back Lake Road in Pittsburgh to OHRV use.


Bill:
HB 1438

Title:
permitting ohrvs on certain public ways.

Sponsor:
Rep. Tony Lekas

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would authorize the use of properly equipped and registered OHRVs on any non-divided public way in the state.

Bill:
HB 1449

Title:
defining animal hoarding.

Sponsor:
Rep. Howard Pearl

Committee:
Environment and Agriculture

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would define animal hoarding and set guidelines on how to address it.


Bill:
HB 1504

Title:
establishing a committee to study prohibiting recreational trapping.

Sponsor:
Rep. Kathryn Stack

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Seeks to establish a committee to examine the feasibility of prohibiting recreational trapping.

Bill:
HB 1553

Title:
prohibiting the posting of certain state properties as no trespassing areas.

Sponsor:
Rep. David Love

Committee:
Public Works and Highways

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would prohibit posting of state lands so long as there was not a risk to public safety.

Bill:
HB 1560

Title:
relative to the criminal penalties for certain negligent actions which cause the death of an animal.

Sponsor:
Rep. Katherine Rogers

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would make it a felony if a victim of animal cruelty dies as a result of that cruelty.

Bill:
HB 1566

Title:
relative to fishing licenses for senior veterans.

Sponsor:
Rep. Edward Gordon

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require the executive director of fish and game to issue a fishing license to any veteran age 65 or older at no cost regardless of the veterans' place of residence.

Bill:
HB 1571

Title:
relative to the qualifications for the members of the fish and game commission.

Sponsor:
Rep. Ellen Read

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Concerning bill. Would fundamentally change the makeup and qualifications of the fish and game commission.


Bill:
HB 1573

Title:
establishing a safari hunting license for hunting certain exotic game.

Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Renny Cushing

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require hunters who hunt certain exotic game to obtain a safari hunting license. Targeted at the Blue Mountain Forrest Association.


Bill:
HB 1585

Title:
relative to fines imposed by the fish and game commission.

Sponsor:
Rep. Timothy Egan

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would double the fines imposed for poaching.


Bill:
HB 1593

Title:
requiring visible flags on kayaks.

Sponsor:
Rep. Kenneth Vincent

Committee:
Resources, Recreation and Development

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require four-foot-tall, reflective flags to be mounted on all kayaks.


Bill:
HB 1596

Title:
relative to the funding for search and rescue operations of the fish and game department and making an appropriation therefor.

Sponsor:
Rep. David Love

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would provide that search and rescue services provided by Fish and Game be paid from the General Fund.


Bill:
HB 1602

Title:
establishing a registry for persons convicted of animal cruelty.

Sponsor:
Rep. Charlie St. Clair

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require anyone convicted of animal cruelty to register with the county sheriff and the Department of Safety.


Bill:
HB 1606

Title:
relative to cruelty to a wild animal, fish, or wild bird.

Sponsor:
Rep. Ellen Read

Committee:
Fish and Game and Marine Resources

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would establish an enhanced criminal penalty for cruelty to any wild animal, fish, or wild bird.


Bill:
HB 1609

Title:
relative to seasonal platforms on public waters of the state.

Sponsor:
Rep. John MacDonald

Committee:
Resources, Recreation and Development

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require that any person seeking to anchor a floating dock, seasonal platform, inflatable platform or float on public waters of the state adhere to requirements specified by the department of safety, division of marine patrol.


Bill:
HB 1612

Title:
relative to utility terrain vehicle operation on roads.

Sponsor:
Rep. Rebecca McWilliams

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would allow utility terrain vehicles to be registered for operation on roadways where the posted speed limit is 45 miles per hour or less.


Bill:
HB 1630

Title:
relative to pet vendors.

Sponsor:
Rep. Howard Pearl

Committee:
Environment and Agriculture

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would raise the number of dogs that can be transferred without a pet vendor license to 35.


Bill:
HB 1660

Title:
establishing a protective order for vulnerable adults.

Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Renny Cushing

Committee:
Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Bill seeks to establish procedures for vulnerable adults to obtain protective orders in cases of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.


Bill:
HB 1688

Title:
relative to ohrv speed limits on roads.

Sponsor:
Rep. Judith Spang

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would allow abutters to roadways open to OHRV use to petition the local governing body to reduce speed limits for OHRVs.


Bill:
SB 469

Title:
relative to shooting ranges.

Sponsor:
Sen. Jeanne Dietsch

Committee:
Judiciary

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would subject an owner or operator of a shooting range to civil and criminal liability for violation of noise ordinances or damage to persons or property caused by the operation of a shooting range.


Bill:
SB 473

Title:
relative to certificate of boating safety.

Sponsor:
Sen. Regina Birdsell

Committee:
Transportation

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would require everyone to obtain a boaters safety certificate for operation of a boat with over 25 horsepower.


Bill:
SB 476

Title:
relative to parking restrictions at public access to public waters.

Sponsor:
Sen. Jeanne Dietsch

Committee:
Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would prohibit municipalities from prohibiting parking at public water access locations.






Remaining 2020 LSRs


Bill:
LSR 2015

Title:
relative to the disposition of old weapons.

Sponsor:
Rep. Donovan Fenton

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2083

Title:
requiring the report of suspected animal cruelty to law enforcement.

Sponsor:
Rep. Katherine Rogers

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2094

Title:
establishing a dock registration procedure.

Sponsor:
Rep. Andrew Renzullo

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2223

Title:
relative to the winnacunnet estuary.

Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Renny Cushing

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2262

Title:
establishing a committee to study the repeal or amendment of the New Hampshire constitutional provision for the bearing of arms.

Sponsor:
Rep. Peter Schmidt

Status:
Schedule pending




Bill:
LSR 2380

Title:
relating to the right to hunt, fish and trap. providing that people of the state have a right to hunt, fish, and trap.

Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Forsythe

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2384

Title:
authorizing utility terrain vehicles plates for road use.

Sponsor:
Rep. Alan Turcotte

Status:
Schedule pending




Bill:
LSR 2458

Title:
relative to New Hampshire citizens' right to keep and bear arms.

Sponsor:
Rep. Tony Piemonte

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2588

Title:
banning the sales of assault weapons.

Sponsor:
Rep. Jacqueline Cali-Pitts

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2733

Title:
relative to protective orders for vulnerable adults.

Sponsor:
Sen. Jeb Bradley

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 2787

Title:
establishing a surcharge on certain saltwater licenses and establishing a fund for derelict fishing gear and coastal cleanup.

Sponsor:
Sen. David Watters

Status:
Schedule pending


Bill:
LSR 3060

Title:
amending the eligibility criteria for obtaining a part-time commercial lobster and crab license.

Sponsor:
Sen. David Watters

Status:
Schedule pending




Legislation Regarding Firearms


Bill:
HB 1101

Title:
imposing a waiting period between the purchase and delivery of a firearm.

Sponsor:
Rep. Katherine Rogers

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would establish a 3-day waiting period for the purchase of a firearm.




Bill:
HB 1143

Title:
repealing limited liability for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition.

Sponsor:
Rep. Andrew Bouldin

Committee:
Judiciary

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would repeal limited liability for manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition.







Bill:
HB 1285

Title:
relative to possession of firearms on school property.

Sponsor:
Rep. Mary Heath

Committee:
Education

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would prohibit carrying a firearm on school property.




Bill:
HB 1349

Title:
establishing a committee to study firearms incidents involving children with access to unsecured firearms.

Sponsor:
Rep. David Meuse

Committee:
Children and Family Law

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Study committee looking at injuries related to unsecured firearms.


Bill:
HB 1350

Title:
requiring a locking safety device be provided for commercial firearm sales and transfers.

Sponsor:
Rep. David Meuse

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
This bill prohibits the sale or transfer of a firearm unless accompanied by an approved safety device.


Bill:
HB 1374

Title:
relative to voluntarily surrendered firearms.

Sponsor:
Rep. Robert Renny Cushing

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Bill allows state agencies to establish programs to collect and destroy voluntarily surrendered firearms. Current law prohibits agencies from establishing programs.


Bill:
HB 1379

Title:
requiring a background check for commercial firearms sales.

Sponsor:
Rep. Katherine Rogers

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
This bill requires commercial firearms sales or transfers in this state to be subject to a criminal background check and provides a criminal penalty for a violation. The bill excludes private, noncommercial sales or transfers between individuals, provided neither individual is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm under state or federal law.




Bill:
HB 1608

Title:
prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transfer, and possession of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Sponsor:
Rep. Casey Conley

Committee:
Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Status:
Schedule pending

Comments:
Would prohibit the sale and possession of rifle magazine holding more than 10 rounds and handgun magazines holding more than 15 rounds.



https://www.outdoorlife.com/changes-to-pittman-robertson-funds-are-designed-to-save-next-endangered-species-hunters
​
These are the listing of the current Legislative bills that are active. ​​​​2019_3-22_nhwf.docx
This a full listing of 2019 legislative bills that were voted on at the 2019 NHWF Annual Meeting and the position taken.  legislative_position_report_2019.docx2019_4-19_nhwf.docx

New Hampshire Wildlife Federation 54 Portsmouth Street Concord, NH 03301
​


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