The Legislative Session is Over, But Sportsmen Must Stay Vigilant
Last week, on June 4, the 2026 New Hampshire legislative session officially adjourned sine die. This means the legislature has concluded its work for the year without scheduling a date to return, thereby halting further debate on bills and effectively defeating any remaining bills that did not complete the legislative process.
Several sportsmen-related bills were introduced this year, and two bills passed the state legislature and have been transmitted to Governor Kelly Ayotte for her final consideration.
- HB 1140 enables the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to issue a special permit allowing certain disabled individuals to hunt from a motor vehicle, including off-highway recreational vehicles, ATVs, and snowmobiles. This expands outdoor accessibility while maintaining strict safety standards, ensuring no loaded firearms are chambered while the vehicle is in motion.
- HB 1199 reallocates a portion of prepaid license revenue to a new account to upgrade department business operations and licensing systems, allows Fish and Game to charge other state agencies when they use its staff or expertise for regulatory reviews, and clarifies eligibility and timelines for purchasing discounted resident lifetime licenses for infants under one year of age.
Why We Must Stay Vigilant
While the legislative session is over, our frontline defense cannot rest. Anti-sportsmen organizations continually look for backdoors to restrict public land access, ban traditional management tools, or push emotional agendas outside the legislative cycle.
Right now, the battleground shifts directly to the regulatory arena. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission continues to meet monthly to vote on critical wildlife policies, budgets, and rules. We must maintain a strong, active presence to remind commissioners that Granite State sportsmen demand transparent, scientific wildlife management.
What You Need To Do Right Now
- Attend the Next Commission Meeting: On Tuesday, June 16, the Fish and Game Commission will meet to discuss the annual budget and river access guidelines. Plan to attend or submit written public comments to safeguard our outdoor heritage.
- Stay Connected: Keep a close eye on your inbox. When anti-sportsmen threats arise, we must be ready to fight, and we need all the sportsmen of the Granite State to be ready.
Share this message with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen, and urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in protecting and defending our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage in New Hampshire.
