concerning the protection of public lands.

HR 44 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

12Mar2026... 0800h
12Mar2026... 1078h
2026 SESSION
26-3246
08/06

HOUSE RESOLUTION
44

A RESOLUTION
concerning the protection of public lands.

SPONSORS: Rep. Burroughs, Carr. 2; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. Knab, Rock. 12; Rep. Spier, Hills. 6; Rep. J. Sullivan, Graf. 2; Rep. J. Smith, Carr. 5; Rep. R. Brown, Carr. 8

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development

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ANALYSIS

This resolution urges support for keeping public ownership of public lands and opposes efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule.

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12Mar2026... 0800h
12Mar2026... 1078h 26-3246
08/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

A RESOLUTION
concerning the protection of public lands.

Whereas, Granite Staters have a deep love and affection for our shared, public lands and the innumerable benefits they provide; and
Whereas, New Hampshire’s state and federal public lands include the White Mountain National Forest, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, designated wilderness areas, state forests and parks, and other conserved lands that define our state’s natural character; and
Whereas, New Hampshire residents’ affection for public lands does not stop at our state line, extending to the greater Northern Forest, the Green and Adirondack Mountains, Acadia National Park, and the millions of acres of conserved lands across New England that offer hiking, skiing, boating, climbing, and world-class hunting and fishing; and
Whereas, our public lands reflect many of our most noble democratic ideals, offering recreational, economic, cultural, and spiritual opportunities to all people, regardless of background, income, or geography; and
Whereas, New Hampshire’s public lands provide defining features of our shared heritage: from the Presidential Range and Franconia Notch to historic trails like the Crawford Path, and the mills, farmsteads, and stone walls that tell the story of our communities; and
Whereas, these lands safeguard essential wildlife habitats, clean water sources such as the Saco, Androscoggin, and Merrimack Rivers, clean air, and natural amenities that support Granite Staters’ quality of life and strengthen our resilience to floods, droughts, and other disasters; and
Whereas, tourism and outdoor recreation are central to New Hampshire’s economy, with the outdoor recreation industry contributing nearly $4 billion annually and supporting tens of thousands of jobs in guiding, hospitality, ski areas, equipment, and local businesses, including in communities that are near our state and federal public lands; and
Whereas, New Hampshire residents and visitors alike treasure the 4-season recreation that our forests and mountains provide — from summer hiking to fall foliage, winter skiing, and spring fishing — and these activities sustain both our economy and our identity; and
Whereas, attempts to open roadless areas to industrial development and road-building threaten New Hampshire’s treasured landscapes and are inconsistent with the values and interests of Granite Staters; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the House of Representatives:
I. Declares our support for keeping our public lands in public hands through the stewardship of the United States government and its federal land management agencies, including the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management.
II. Opposes efforts to open roadless areas or to sell, transfer, or dispose of our state or federal public lands, including inventoried roadless areas in the White Mountain National Forest.
III. Encourages New Hampshire’s governor and attorney general, and our Congressional delegation, to take all necessary actions to oppose any attempt to open roadless areas or diminish protections for our state and federal public lands.
Let it further be resolved that copies of this resolution, signed by the speaker of the house of representatives, be forwarded by the house clerk to the governor of New Hampshire, the attorney general, the New Hampshire congressional delegation, and the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture.