This bill amends RSA 431:4-e to establish a system of graduated penalties for the incorrect application of fertilizers, introducing new legal language to clarify the consequences for violations. Specifically, it inserts a new paragraph (VIII) that outlines the penalties based on the number of offenses: a written warning for a first offense, a $250 fine per acre for a second offense, and a misdemeanor charge for a third or subsequent offense. The bill also includes a provision stating that these penalties apply notwithstanding RSA 431:18.

The bill is set to take effect upon its passage and is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state and local governments, particularly concerning judicial and correctional systems due to the changes in penalties. The estimated revenue and expenditures for the state and counties are projected to be $0 for the fiscal years 2025 through 2028, but the costs associated with prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole may vary.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 431:4-e
As Amended by the House: 431:4-e