This bill establishes new regulations for anchored seasonal platforms on public waters, limiting their use to legal owners of adjacent shorefront property, with specific exceptions for government and conservation activities. The bill amends RSA 270:72-c to require individuals who wish to erect or maintain such platforms to obtain a permit from the Division of State Police, Marine Patrol, at a cost of $50. The permit fee is divided equally between the Navigation Safety Fund and the Cyanobacteria Mitigation Loan and Grant Fund. Additionally, the bill imposes a fine of $100 plus a 20% penalty for those who fail to obtain the required permit.

The legislation also clarifies that platforms used for non-recreational activities by government agencies or conservation groups, as well as those engaged in aquaculture, are exempt from the permit requirement, provided they meet established minimum requirements. The bill aims to enhance the regulation of seasonal platforms, ensuring that they are properly managed and that their impact on public waters is monitored. The implementation of this bill is expected to incur additional costs for the Department of Safety, necessitating the hiring of two new positions to manage the permitting process effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 270:72-c
As Amended by the House: 270:72-c
HB1477 text: 270:72-c