This bill amends the current vessel registration procedures by introducing a requirement for the issuance and display of a boat fee decal to indicate the payment of boat fees. The bill modifies RSA 270-E:3, III to specify that the application for vessel registration must be accompanied by the fees required by RSA 270-E:5, I, and it must include information about the principal use of the vessel and whether it is to be registered for tidal and coastal waters. Additionally, the bill amends RSA 270-E:4 to exempt certain vessels from both registration and the requirement to display a boat fee decal.

The bill also revises the vessel registration fees section (RSA 270-E:5, II) by changing the allocation of fees collected for each registration processed by an authorized agent, who is not an employee of the department, to be retained by the agent as compensation. Furthermore, it introduces a new section (RSA 270-E:5-a) that outlines the cost of the boat fee decal and specifies the funds into which the collected fees will be paid, including the lake restoration and preservation fund, the fish and game search and rescue fund, the statewide public boat access fund, the harbor dredging and pier maintenance fund, and the navigation safety fund. The bill also mandates the display of both the boat fee decal and vessel numbers, with penalties for non-compliance. Rulemaking authority is extended to include boat fee decals, and provisions for decal issuance, replacement, and payment are updated. The bill repeals RSA 270-E:3, IV, which pertains to the receipt for boat fee payment, and sets the effective date of the act as January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 270-E:5, 270-E:8, 270-E:12, 72-A:8
As Amended by the House: 270-E:5, 270-E:8, 270-E:12, 72-A:8
As Amended by the House (2nd): 270-E:5, 270-E:8, 270-E:12, 270:62, 72-A:8
Version adopted by both bodies: 270-E:5, 270-E:8, 270-E:12, 270:62, 72-A:8
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 270-E:5, 270-E:8, 270-E:12, 270:62, 72-A:8