Committee hears bill to protect boat-decals for boat-ramps and lake restoration funds

Senate Bill 51, introduced by Sen. David Waters during the Ways and Means Committee public hearing, would clarify statutory language so that specified portions of boat registration decal fees are dedicated to the state's boat access program and the Lake Restoration and Preservation Fund.

Waters said the bill is "primarily housekeeping," and that it directs the existing $5 boat decal fee to the boat-access fund to ensure those revenues are not diverted. He told the committee protecting that dedicated revenue helps Fish and Game provide match for federal and other grants and can reduce the need to bond for expensive ramp projects.

Garrett Graskamp, boat access coordinator for New Hampshire Fish and Game, and Mike Marchand of Fish and Game described recent ramp projects and costs to illustrate the program's needs. Graskamp said the department has built or refurbished high-cost ramps including projects of roughly $400,000'$500,000 for improvements such as an ADA-capable transfer platform on Newfound Lake and a reconstruction in Claremont. He told the committee the decal fee has not changed since it was established and the program covers roughly 36 state-managed boat ramps while the state has hundreds of lakes over 10 acres.

Committee members asked whether one or two decals are required and how fees are collected. Fish and Game witnesses clarified that a single decal covers several dedicated accounts associated with registration; administrative services divides receipts to the specific funds and the funds are non-lapsing and available until drawn down. Representative Spar asked whether indexing or regular fee increases would be appropriate; Graskamp said the department would welcome additional resources but his immediate goal was protecting and clarifying the funds.

Members also pressed on enforcement and fee-collection practicality. Fish and Game said remote fee-collection or parking meters are problematic at many ramps because sites are unmanned, remote and subject to vandalism; conservation officers already cover large territories and the department lacks resources to staff ramps for fee collection.

Action: In executive session the committee voted "ought to pass" on SB 51 as amended by the Senate; the clerk recorded a committee roll call showing the motion passed unanimously among members present (15 yes, 0 no; 5 absent). The committee placed the bill on consent.

Ending: Committee members asked DRA and administrative services to confirm the statutory wording and mechanics for non-lapsing status and interest crediting; sponsors and staff said they would follow up with technical corrections if needed.