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Committee tables bill expanding state‑road connectors for off‑highway vehicles after heated hearing
Summary
The committee voted ITL on HB 683 after a long hearing with testimony for local control and connectivity and extensive opposition citing public‑safety, enforcement and abutter‑notification concerns.
The Resources, Recreation and Development Committee voted to recommend that House Bill 683, which would allow additional counties to use an established process for opening short segments of state roads to off‑highway recreational vehicles (OHRVs), be declared inexpedient to legislate (ITL).
Prime sponsors and ATV advocates said the bill simply extends to five additional counties the process already used in parts of the North Country, where volunteer clubs, town selectboards and the Department of Transportation (DOT) follow a public, documented procedure that includes landowner permission, public hearings and a DOT safety review. Supporters argued the change is a narrowly targeted tool to help a few towns link local trails to services such as…
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