This bill amends the definition of "mooring" in RSA 270:59, III to include not only traditional mooring equipment but also spuds, lifts, and similar devices that secure boats to the bottom of a water body. The new legal language specifies that these devices can be considered part of the mooring system when they are integral to the vessel and used in place of a dock or pier. Additionally, the bill introduces a new prohibition under RSA 270:64, IV, which states that no person may use spuds, lifts, or similar devices as a substitute for a permitted mooring in any body of water that requires a mooring permit.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and it is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments due to potential changes in judicial and correctional costs associated with enforcement. The estimated revenue and expenditures for the state and counties are projected to be $0 for the fiscal years 2025 through 2028, but the bill may still incur costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 173-B:1