This bill mandates that the commissioner of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources set state park entry fees for New Hampshire residents at no more than 50 percent of the fees charged to nonresidents. It allows for the establishment of separate fee schedules for specific uses within state parks, such as camping and facility rentals, while ensuring that residents are charged no more than 90 percent of the fees for these services compared to nonresidents. Additionally, the bill permits discounted or waived rates for veterans and school or student groups. The residency of individuals can be verified through various forms of identification, including state-issued IDs and vehicle registrations.

The bill also outlines the fiscal implications, indicating that the changes could lead to an indeterminable impact on the State Park Fund's revenues and expenditures. It is estimated that reducing the day-use fee for residents by 50 percent could result in a revenue decrease of approximately $1.1 million, while increasing non-resident fees could generate additional revenue. However, the Department anticipates that such fee changes may deter visitation, potentially offsetting expected revenue gains. Implementation costs for modifying systems to verify residency and apply differential pricing are projected to exceed $100,000, with overall revenue impacts ranging from a decrease of $1.5 million to an increase of $2 million annually starting in FY 2028. The bill is set to take effect on April 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 216-A:3-g
As Amended by the Senate: 216-A:3-g
SB511 text: 216-A:3-g