Passed House Resource Recreation and Development Committee. If it passes the full House, the next opportunity to testify will be a Senate Hearing. Majority & Minority Reports attached below.
From House Calendar Feb 7, 2025, pg 11
MAJORITY: OUGHT TO PASS.
Rep. Arnold Davis for the Majority of Resources, Recreation and Development. This bill would increase the
maximum unladen dry weight limit of an OHRV to 3,500 pounds. The majority of the committee believes
this will pave the way for electric OHRVs and that the noise and pollution reduction from electric OHRVs
would remove noise and pollution concerns of abutters. It was discussed that presently the vehicles using
these rails are not weighed and may already be in violation of the weight limit. This bill is limited to state
owned trails in Coos County as well as certain other specified recreational trails. Testimony was received
from the New Hampshire Off-Highway Vehicle Association (NHOHVA) in support of this bill to keep up
with consumer demands and technological advances. The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association
(ROHVA) also submitted testimony in support of this bill for similar reasons. Vote 9-7.
MINORITY: INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE. Rep. Suzanne Vail for the Minority of Resources, Recreation and Development. With upwards of 80% of the OHRV trail system in the state existing on private property, the goodwill and cooperation of landowners, loggers, and all entities that promote forest and farm management is critical to maintaining access and balanced regulation of recreation on private land. For these reasons, the 2022 HB 1188 commission to study the use of OHRVs inNew Hampshire was established to examine and come up with sustainable solutions to the changes the sport has brought to the area. This bill has not been reviewed by the HB 1188 commission. By passing this bill, we are ignoring the expertise of the NH Timber Owners Association, the NH Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Wildlife Federation, all who oppose the bill. We also exclude the expertise gathered by House members from Transportation, Resources, and Municipal and County Government; state agencies; business owners; transportation experts; local officials; and abutters who rely on a process and formal discussion about responsible trail use. Our state and local economies depend on these landowners to continue granting access. If larger, heavier vehicles begin to negatively impact trails, it is entirely within the landowners’ rights to revoke access, fragmenting the interconnected trail system that so many riders depend upon. Without addressing concerns that would arise at the commission hearings, we could be contributing further to the inconsistency of the term “unladen dry weight” in statute. This is not defined in the bill. An example is whether an electric vehicle includes a battery under this terminology, which remains unclear. This would complicate enforcement of this weight restriction. The minority of the committee understands that trail access is a privilege, not a
right, and that maintaining strong relationships with landowners and businesses is essential to keeping the
system functional and open to riders. It is not just about recreational access; it is about striking a sustainable balance that involves both education and penalties to deal with transgressions. Landowners and local
businesses deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made about the future of trail use, and any shift
in regulation should actively involve their voices to ensure the long-term sustainability of OHRV recreation
in New Hampshire. To circumvent this process would go against our committee’s statutory obligation to the
stakeholders we must consider.