This bill proposes to increase the penalties for violations of the Shoreland and Water Quality Protection Act. Specifically, it amends RSA 483-B:18, III to raise the maximum civil penalty for violations from $5,000 to $15,000 for each continuing violation. Additionally, the bill allows the commissioner to impose an administrative fine of up to $15,000 for each offense, with the possibility of multiplying this fine by a factor of 2 for each repeat violation. The bill also stipulates that the superior court has jurisdiction to restrain ongoing violations and require remediation.

The effective date for this act is set for January 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it does not provide funding or authorize new positions, and the Department of Environmental Services cannot predict the number of potential violations or the resulting increase in revenue from civil penalties and administrative fines. While the bill may lead to an increase in civil cases in the Superior Court, the exact number of such actions remains uncertain.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 483-B:18