Transportation (Roads & Highways)

HB 1682 establishes registration fees for small battery-operated vehicles used on public roads in New Hampshire. It charges $20 annually for municipal on-road use (vehicles under 400 lbs) and $30 for public road use (401-1,000 lbs), with fees paid to the owner's municipality or deposited in the highway fund. The bill exempts motorized electric vehicles used exclusively off-road from registration requirements. It also requires the Department of Safety to report annual fee revenue to transportation committees. This affects owners of small electric scooters, bikes, or similar devices operating on public roads.

HB 1533 regulates electric bicycles and alternative electric micromobility devices (like e-scooters) by prohibiting their operation on sidewalks and restricting class 3 devices from bicycle paths. It requires annual registration, speedometers, headlights, and learner's permits for riders aged 16-18 operating class 3 devices. The bill also establishes penalties including device impoundment for violations and clarifies that non-compliant devices will be treated as off-highway recreational vehicles. These rules directly affect e-bike and micromobility users, particularly those operating higher-speed class 3 devices in public spaces.

HB 1354 authorizes New Hampshire's Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a special registration plate symbol for amateur radio operators. It allows applicants with a valid Federal Communications Commission amateur radio license to add this symbol to their license plates for a $85 fee (in addition to standard fees), applicable to passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles. The fees collected will cover production/administrative costs, with remaining funds deposited into the highway fund for public safety communications infrastructure. This bill creates a new plate option without altering existing registration requirements.

HB 1810 imposes a $4 fee per ton (or equivalent) on bulk road salt, road salt mix, and brine sold in New Hampshire to fund certified winter road maintenance practices. The fee is collected annually by bulk sellers (e.g., suppliers to municipalities, businesses, or state agencies) and deposited into a dedicated road salt mitigation fund. Sellers must file annual returns with the Department of Revenue Administration, maintain sales records for three years, and provide receipts showing the fee paid. This policy directly affects road salt bulk sellers and ensures funds support certified winter road maintenance programs across the state.

SB 458 removes the current restriction that limits toll credits to the Nashua-Manchester-Concord project, allowing any municipal, county, or non-profit transportation project to use toll credits. The bill requires toll credits to be available at a minimum 50% discount (meaning entities pay no more than half the face value) to meet federal matching requirements for eligible highway projects. It also eliminates the need for state department or legislative approval when using toll credits for these projects, streamlining access to federal transportation funding.