This bill proposes to increase the penalties for violations of the Shoreland and Water Quality Protection Act by amending RSA 483-B:18, III. The current maximum civil penalty of $5,000 for each continuing violation will be raised to $15,000. Additionally, the administrative fine for violations will also increase from $5,000 to $15,000 per offense. The bill allows for repeat violations to incur fines that can be multiplied by a factor of 2 for each previous violation committed by the individual or entity. The changes aim to enhance compliance with the shoreland and water quality regulations by imposing stricter financial consequences for violations.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and does not provide any funding or authorize new positions. The fiscal impact is indeterminable, as it is unclear how many violations may occur and how much revenue could be generated from the increased penalties. The Department of Environmental Services has indicated that predicting the number of potential violations is currently impossible, and while the bill may lead to an increase in civil cases in the Superior Court, the extent of this increase remains uncertain.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 483-B:18