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HB 1477-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
5Feb2026... 0067h
2026 SESSION
26-2915
06/08
HOUSE BILL
1477-FN
AN ACT
relative to the permitting and regulation of anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters.
SPONSORS: Rep. J. MacDonald, Carr. 6; Rep. Crawford, Carr. 3; Rep. Damon, Sull. 8; Rep. Darby, Hills. 11; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7; Rep. Hamblen, Carr. 3; Rep. Rung, Hills. 12; Rep. Walker, Straf. 19
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill restricts anchored seasonal platforms on public waters to adjacent shorefront property owners, requires permits with identification and a $50 fee, exempts certain government and conservation uses, and imposes fines for noncompliance.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
5Feb2026... 0067h 26-2915
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
relative to the permitting and regulation of anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Anchored Seasonal Platform; Limitations. Amend RSA 270:72-c, I-III to read as follows:
I.
As defined in RSA 270:72-b, I,
no person shall erect, install, maintain, or exercise control over an anchored seasonal platform on the public waters of the state who is not the legal owner of the adjacent shorefront property except as authorized in paragraph III below.
II. Any person erecting, installing, maintaining, or exercising control over an anchored seasonal platform on any public body of water shall attach his or her name and contact information to any such seasonal platform as provided in this subdivision and in accordance with rules established under RSA 270:72-g
shall obtain an anchored seasonal platform permit from the division of state police, marine patrol. The cost of the permit shall be $50 dollars, $25 shall be deposited in the navigation safety fund established under RSA 270-E:6-a and $25 shall be deposited into the cyanobacteria mitigation loan and grant fund
.
III. Seasonal platforms installed on public waters that support a local, state, or federal government agency, an agency's sub-contractors, or a conservation group engaged in the non-recreational activities
, or those engaged in aquaculture, including commercial storage of shellfish
may be installed provided the platform meets the minimum requirements established in RSA 270:72-d
and shall be exempted from paragraph II
.
IV. Any person failing to obtain an anchored seasonal platform permit shall be fined $100 plus a 20 percent penalty assessment.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBA
26-2915
2/9/26
HB 1477-FN-
FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-0067h)
AN ACT
relative to the permitting and regulation of anchored seasonal floating platforms on public waters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
Estimated State Impact
FY 2026
FY 2027
FY 2028
FY 2029
Revenue
$0
Indeterminable Increase
Revenue Fund(s)
Navigation Safety Fund and the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund
Expenditures*
$0
$178,000+
$144,000+
$150,000+
Funding Source(s)
Navigation Safety Fund
Appropriations*
$0
$0
$0
$0
Funding Source(s)
None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires all anchored seasonal platforms on public waters obtain an anchored seasonal platform permit issued by the Department of Safety, Division of State Police Marine Patrol. The bill establishes a $50 permit fee, with $25 to the Navigation Safety Fund and $25 to the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund. It also establishes a $100 fine plus a 20% penalty assessment for failure to obtain the required permit.
The Department states it is not known how many seasonal platforms exist on state waters. For comparison, the state currently issues 4,800 to 5,000 mooring permits on only eight regulated lakes. This bill would cover all bodies of water. Currently, the Department employs one full-time employee responsible for processing mooring permit applications and renewals. If passed, the Department states it would need two (2) new positions (miscellaneous records clerk – 2, SOC 43-03) to implement the program, at an estimated cost of $178,000 in FY 2027, $144,000 in FY 2028 and $150,000 in FY 2029. The Department has not provided an estimate as to how many new permits may be issued under this bill, therefore, the cost to produce additional permit decals ($.51 per decal) and the revenue impact on the Navigation Safety Fund and the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund are indeterminable.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Safety