# New Hampshire SB32: relative to the fish and game commission.

New Hampshire SB32, relative to the fish and game commission., is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Howard Pearl (r); status signed, last action 2025-07-22 (Signed by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0215; Effective 09/13/2025) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB32-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Hampshire SB32
- State: New Hampshire
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: relative to the fish and game commission.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-07
- Last action: 2025-07-22, Signed by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0215; Effective 09/13/2025
- Sponsor: Howard Pearl (r)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Hunters get injured waterfowl boat exception: benefit, low. Hunters shooting injured or crippled waterfowl from a motorized boat are exempt from the restrictions in RSA 207:7. This exception applies only to injured or crippled waterfowl, not all waterfowl hunting.
- Public fish and game hearing access: benefit, low. The Fish and Game executive director must hold public hearings in Concord and Lancaster every two years, in odd-numbered years. These hearings seek public suggestions on fishing rules and the director’s other duties, and commission members must attend. Notices must run at least twice in two newspap…
- State rules set anglers’ habitat fee: cost, low. Anglers age 16 or older must pay a habitat fee to fish in New Hampshire fresh waters. It applies on top of each applicable fishing or combination license. The law replaces the fixed $1 fee with an amount set through Fish and Game rules; no replacement amount is stated. Exemptions cover complimentar…
- Anglers face tighter minnow net limits: cost, low. Anglers can use circular drop nets up to 48 inches across, or square nets of equal area, for bait minnows. These nets are allowed only in waters without any trout, rather than just waters without brook trout. Minnow traps remain allowed in trout waters if no longer than 18 inches, with entrance ope…
- Connecticut River salmon commission ends: cost, low. The law repeals the statute establishing the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon Commission, ending the commission and its legal role. The provided text names no replacement body or duties and states no direct household financial effect.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Howard Pearl (r), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kevin A. Avard (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Regina Birdsell (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Daniel E. Innis (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Timothy Lang (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Tara Reardon (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Rochefort (Republican), Senate

## Actions (17)

- 2025-07-22: Signed by the Governor on 07/15/2025; Chapter 0215; Effective 09/13/2025 (Senate)
- 2025-06-30: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 58 (House)
- 2025-06-30: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18 (Senate)
- 2025-06-16: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2727e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/12/2025); SJ 17 (Senate)
- 2025-06-16: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2727e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/12/2025 HJ 17 (House)
- 2025-05-15: Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13 (Senate)
- 2025-05-08: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1720h: MA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 5 (House)
- 2025-05-08: Amendment # 2025-1720h: AA VV 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 5 (House)
- 2025-04-25: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1720h 04/23/2025 (Vote 12-0; CC) (House)
- 2025-04-25: Executive Session: 04/23/2025 10:20 am LOB 307 (House)
- 2025-03-31: Public Hearing: 04/23/2025 10:20 am LOB 307 (House)
- 2025-03-28: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Fish and Game and Marine Resources HJ 11 P. 109 (House)
- 2025-01-30: Committee Amendment # 2025-0014s, AA, VV; 01/30/2025; SJ 4 (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-0014s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 01/30/2025; SJ 4 (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0014s, 01/30/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 7 (Senate)
- 2025-01-09: Hearing: 01/15/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 5 (Senate)
- 2025-01-07: Introduced 01/08/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 2 (Senate)

## Bill text

- As Amended, 2025-06-16: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=8427)
- Enrolled, 2025-06-16: [HTML](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=375&inflession=2025)
- Introduced, 2025-01-07: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=5389)
- CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=16945)
- Version adopted by both bodies: [PDF](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=14480)

## Related bills

- HB2026: (New Title) relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan; relative to toll rate adjustments and periodic toll reviews for the New Hampshire tu… (became law)
- HB1002: repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption. (failed)
- SB101: (Second New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public school in the state. (failed)
- CACR22: relating to the compensation of the legislature. Providing that the present compensation per elected term for legislators is hereby abolished. (failed)
- HB1834: relative to the education freedom account enrollment cap. (failed)
- HB1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to fund statewide housing development programs and address housing shortages and m… (failed)

## Sources
- [As Amended (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=8427)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/billinfo.aspx?id=375&inflession=2025)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=5389)
- [CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=16945)
- [Version adopted by both bodies (PDF)](https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/pdf.aspx?q=billVersion&id=14480)

## Related
- [HB2026: (New Title) relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement plan; rela…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB2026-2025-2026)
- [HB1002: repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1002-2025-2026)
- [SB101: (Second New Title) authorizing parents to enroll their children in any public s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB101-2025-2026)
- [CACR22: relating to the compensation of the legislature. Providing that the present com…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-CACR22-2025-2026)
- [HB1834: relative to the education freedom account enrollment cap.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1834-2025-2026)
- [HB1786: relative to creating a state assessment on non-homestead luxury second homes to…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-HB1786-2025-2026)
- [New Hampshire bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-hampshire/bills)
- [New Hampshire state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-hampshire)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NH-SB32-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-17).