[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6580843,"mediaKeyId","3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37","parentId",3098225,"title","Committee backs using Pittman'Robertson funds for state'listed birds and mammals; approves point-of-sale donation amendment","audioSeconds",1036,"startMs",2506000,"endMs",3542000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37&start=2506&end=3542","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37/thumbnail_2506000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580843/New-Hampshire/Committee-backs-using-PittmanRobertson-funds-for-statelisted-birds-and-mammals-approves-point-of-sale-donation-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580843-586b1974e78f5265b3274429f3333db7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428518&Signature=g9FwPfbeXTj051418DwlUK6KF3yVIF0cN0x-HPaJmP4xhgI9-OPpjS02snhcuqTeBJwizj3XJiUZBJTdHQZtnXfL28smTl1kpUUkmKYxat7eqE7TaF8Cv45TrHDmxGrwz3b1cmu-YmUDT1VnMYzab5TqdQDQxNjYw~Rs9695L-mUDKKJn~lMJE6-HA~Pm9W5vablq2pe95pZ5IAcEu7Hb4iZYQTzq59sawtePHerLAseW49o-rhV6v1csXuxYslkaVR~zgsqLYvITn0~A3kYTO-1-u4VoN6CNigXTWWquLinEeloRDoZUCq6BLqF2Ia7A8FSJrkCZEf7Oa9bsCSx5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-04-23T17:38:43.593Z","article","Senator David Waters told the House Fish and Game Committee that SB 235 would allow New Hampshire to use federal Pittman'Robertson (PR) Wildlife Restoration Act funds on federally eligible threatened and endangered bird and mammal species and other projects that involve wild birds and mammals.

\"This bill strikes out the lines on the use of the Pittman Robertson funds...\" Senator David Waters said, describing the change as a step to give Fish and Game more flexibility to provide matching funds for federal grants and avoid having federal allocations revert unused to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Carol Foss of New Hampshire Audubon testified in support, saying PR allocations have grown (she noted an increase from roughly $500,000 historically to about $5,500,000 today) while the number of licensed hunters has declined. She said allowing acceptance of partner matching funds would help New Hampshire secure full federal allocations for conservation work on birds and mammals.

Dan Bergeron, Chief of the Wildlife Division at New Hampshire Fish and Game, told the committee that federal PR rules limit eligible uses to wild birds and mammals; the bill would not permit PR dollars to be used for non-bird/non-mammal species. Bergeron said New Hampshire is effectively the only state that keeps an additional statutory restriction on the use of PR proceeds and that the department sometimes struggles to produce the required state match to access federal funds.

The committee also considered an amendment (2025-1603H) creating a Fish and Game fund into which voluntary point-of-sale donations from retail partners could be deposited; the amendment directs the funds into a general Fish and Game fund the Legislative Budget Office identified as appropriate for non-dedicated departmental revenue. Sponsor testimony described the change as an effort to allow retailers to offer voluntary donations (for example, a customer \"round up\" prompt at checkout) to support Fish and Game programs.

Supporters said point-of-sale donations and broader authority to use PR funds for eligible birds and mammals would let the department tap partner match from conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy or Audubon to secure federal grants, rather than letting those federal dollars be expended out of state.

The committee adopted the point-of-sale amendment and recommended the bill Ought to Pass Amended. A recorded committee vote in favor of the amended bill was taken; the committee placed the bill on consent for the House calendar.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Fish and Game and Marine Resources (04/23/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Fish and Game Committee recommended SB 235 with an amendment to allow point-of-sale donations; the bill would remove a New Hampshire restriction on use of federal Pittman'Robertson funds so some federal allocations for wild birds and mammals can support threatened and endangered bird and mammal conservation.","taxTitle","Public Works and Highways, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17759,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580847,"Committee approves Fish and Game housekeeping bill, adds 'sea duck hunting area' carve-out",10614,1493000,12107000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37&start=1493&end=12107","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37/thumbnail_1493000.jpg","/articles/6580847/New-Hampshire/Committee-approves-Fish-and-Game-housekeeping-bill-adds-sea-duck-hunting-area-carve-out","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580847-54789531bb84f3ac57326b089e26b17a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428518&Signature=cvNAQE8KSoFZmE5k~XHruB1oyK6csDG7WLMFs1yLp0gZmx5OEm5MzRiGN8RG67j-A4RMWPvInhuBVtYv-sPt5DwbrKs0HZ1MXcBohEfhaMeIYzDWA1WkA5ATwvIQ2rYcaJHEUO8s1DE5H2tbOurIN2aSz8NJNESEFjA0-CGSwRGAIrchNgN~WK42bH786CNpSzUqMdw-3CzucJjOmCw3x~R8b5vxkPM4HTjrhb0OYkgX2L4YdcSkces3Q7oLO9o52RhRkM1yb1jaFzdCIlJQboqdUCniatCvadDXfEBZsk-9RMoP7SiPQA757k7HnWPvmUdOBtjBq~PJVtJZDU1E0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Howard Pearl and Fish and Game staff described SB 32 to the House Fish and Game Committee as a departmental housekeeping bill that would modernize public notice requirements and harmonize state rules with federal regulations.

\"This would allow the department to post public hearing notices required by law to be posted digitally on a newspaper website,\" Senator Howard Pearl said, noting many publications are now online-only. He told the committee the bill also removes the word \"brook\" from a trout reference so statutory language covers all trout species, authorizes the Fish and Game executive director to set certain fisheries habitat fees by rule, and would repeal the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission because its authorities are now established under rule.

Fish and Game staff asked the committee to add a technical amendment clarifying where the law should allow the shooting of injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorboat under power. Dan Bergeron, Chief of the Wildlife Division, explained the department
sked that the exception be limited to the \"sea duck hunting area\" to mirror federal practice and avoid unintended inland applications. He said sea ducks are diving species that can sink and be irretrievable unless a motorized craft can approach them.

\"The provisions of this section shall not apply to shooting of injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorboat under power in the sea duck hunting area,\" Dan Bergeron told the committee when offering the amendment language.

Representative Darby and other committee members questioned the change allowing notices to be posted on newspaper websites, noting some residents still rely on print newspapers; Bergeron said the change was intended to give the department flexibility, not to preclude continued print posting where available.

The committee approved an amendment that inserts the phrase \"in the sea duck hunting area\" into the injured-or-crippled-waterfowl provision. The amendment passed in committee, and the committee then voted to recommend the amended bill (committee recommendation: Ought to Pass Amended). Recorded committee votes showed the amendment passed and the bill recommendation passed by recorded vote; the committee placed the bill on consent.

The bill as amended now moves forward with the committee endorsement. If enacted, the bill will allow Fish and Game to post certain legally required notices on newspaper websites, align state and federal rules on retrieving crippled sea ducks, broaden trout references in statute, authorize the executive director to set fisheries habitat fees by rule, and repeal the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission where its functions have been moved to rule.

","The House Fish and Game Committee approved SB 32 with an amendment that narrows a provision allowing shooting of injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorized craft to apply specifically \"in the sea duck hunting area.\" The bill also updates notice posting to include newspaper websites and makes other Fish and Game rule clarifications.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580851,"Committee backs one-year apprentice guide license allowing on-the-job experience",7141,435000,7576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37&start=435&end=7576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098225-a5423eae54e6f1fb375ece1b68c06e37/thumbnail_435000.jpg","/articles/6580851/New-Hampshire/Committee-backs-one-year-apprentice-guide-license-allowing-on-the-job-experience","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580851-dd09e7a8551c6234ccb2c9fee8bb43a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770428518&Signature=Yt4brIIwqUbhWrMaK9YgLyFGOgg5rOqvrAW0DpYc5ZRmC8yFbLoyNdcfhxa1IjfIMO6FzioNPCrsaW2w9meN~QOyNT2BVPk2aTIda8TrKvEuYNZ7u4kArzMe~I1PcH6-Reeb~lbgKm~XeCI913yQEV-vqCy2a-DB26GWEf9CcPNZnxTOvy8woM7CmjU92Jl5mK2zIcsGTsmCI~qUyTw3J-aE~FCI42o-XCNRZ7uEHmyn5oBYY4UyQFqTbemkhMzkQPDXTwMUN68BPcp4Va3aCGm0wgYP1iROgloBXEOcR1JszaFBNGTX4c-oEdIkPEfRVwI0TkP0C-8x-LV3VV1Tng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Howard Pearl, the bill
uthor, told the New Hampshire House Fish and Game Committee that SB 31 FN would create an \"apprentice guide license.\" He said the Guides Association and New Hampshire Fish and Game developed the idea to give people a supervised, on-the-job chance to learn paperwork, record-keeping and guiding skills before taking the full guide exam.

\"This is an act establishing a guide apprentice license,\" Senator Howard Pearl said when he opened the hearing. He told the committee the measure mirrors an existing hunting apprentice license and is intended to encourage more people to consider guiding as a profession.

The bill would let a candidate purchase an apprentice license and work under a licensed New Hampshire guide during hunting or fishing activities to gain experience. Supporters said the license aims to improve preparedness for the written and practical tests and to expand the pool of qualified guides.

Speakers at the hearing described how the permit would operate in practice but emphasized that the bill does not change the existing guide licensing test. David Poole, who said he helped originate the idea, told the committee the Guides Association and Fish and Game support the bill because \"we just don't have enough\" guides and the apprentice option would make it easier to enter the field.

Ken Dion, representing the New Hampshire Guides Association, said apprentices would learn skills such as hunter etiquette, client management and navigation, and he gave a practical example of an apprentice placing bait if a licensed guide were injured before a hunt.

The bill text as presented to the committee states an apprentice guide license \"may be purchased only once in the lifetime of the applicant\" and that the license would be valid for one year. Committee members asked for and received clarification during testimony that: the apprentice authorization is intended to be a pre-license experience, it may cover hunting and fishing guiding, and the apprentice itself would not carry the same authorities as a full licensed guide (for example, an apprentice would not be eligible to apply for guide-specific bait permits that statutorily require a licensed guide).

Committee members also asked whether a single master guide could supervise multiple apprentices; witnesses said the bill does not place a statutory cap on the number of apprentices a master guide may have.

After questions and public testimony, the committee voted to recommend the bill \"ought to pass\". The roll-call tally recorded 14 yes votes in favor of the committee recommendation.

The bill now moves from the committee with the committee\u000endorsement; further action will occur on the House calendar.

","The New Hampshire House Fish and Game Committee unanimously recommended passage of SB 31 FN, which would create a one-year 'apprentice guide' license intended to let prospective hunting and fishing guides work under licensed guides before taking the full licensing test.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs using Pittman'Robertson funds for state'listed birds and mammals; approves point-of-sale donation amendment

Committee approves Fish and Game housekeeping bill, adds 'sea duck hunting area' carve-out

Committee backs one-year apprentice guide license allowing on-the-job experience