This bill aims to fund the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams through new fees imposed on boat registrations and waterfront properties. Specifically, it amends RSA 270-E:5, II to introduce a $5 registration fee for each boat processed by authorized agents, with the revenue directed to the dam maintenance fund established under RSA 482:55. Additionally, it amends RSA 482:8-a to establish an annual registration fee for dams based on their hazard classification, ranging from $400 to $1,500. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new annual assessment of $1.58 per foot of linear shoreline on all taxable waterfronts maintained by state-owned dams, with the collected funds also allocated to the dam maintenance fund.

The estimated revenue generated from these fees is projected to be approximately $8,030,000 annually, with $7,500,000 coming from the shoreline fee and $530,000 from boat registration fees. To manage the new shoreline fee program, the Department of Environmental Services anticipates hiring three additional staff members, resulting in increased expenditures of $303,000 in FY 2026, $304,000 in FY 2027, and $314,000 in FY 2028. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and does not anticipate any significant impact on county or local revenues or expenditures, although there may be minor local costs associated with data collection for the shoreline fee program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 270-E:5, 482:8-a