This bill amends the current law regarding motor vehicle title exemptions by changing the criteria for exemption from vehicles manufactured before the year 2000 to those that are older than 20 years. The bill specifies that heavy trucks and truck-tractors with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 18,000 pounds will still be required to obtain a title, regardless of their age. Additionally, it introduces a provision allowing owners of title-exempt vehicles to voluntarily request a title by submitting specific documentation, such as a current or expired New Hampshire certificate of registration or a valid out-of-state certificate of title. The bill clarifies that temporary registrations do not qualify for this voluntary title request. The fiscal impact of this bill is significant, with an estimated reduction in state title fee revenue of approximately $525,000 per year due to the exemption of around 15,212 vehicles reaching the 20-year threshold. Local revenue and expenditures are also expected to decrease by about $63,000 starting in FY 2028, as a portion of highway fund revenue is distributed to municipalities. Furthermore, the Department of Safety anticipates a decrease in expenditures related to direct mailing of titles by approximately $11,550 annually. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 261:3
As Amended by the House: 261:3
HB1421 text: 261:3