CHAPTER 215-A OFF HIGHWAY RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND TRAILS
OHRV Commission
Section 215-A:44-a
[RSA 215-A:44-a repealed by 2022, 301:2, effective November 1, 2026.]
215-A:44-a OHRV Commission. –
I. Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the use of OHRVs in New Hampshire.
II. Membership and Compensation.
(a) The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(1) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives:
(A) Two of whom shall be members of the house resources, recreation and development committee, one of whom shall be from the majority party and one of whom shall be from the minority party.
(B) One of whom shall be a member from the house transportation committee.
(C) One of whom shall be a member from Coos county.
(2) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(3) One representative of the fish and game department, appointed by the executive director of the fish and game department.
(4) The chief supervisor of the bureau of trails of the department of natural and cultural resources, or designee.
(5) One representative of municipal police departments, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police.
(6) One representative of the department of transportation, appointed by the commissioner.
(7) One representative of the New Hampshire state police, appointed by the director of the state police.
(8) One representative of the New Hampshire Off Highway Vehicle Association, appointed by the association.
(9) One representative of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, appointed by the association.
(10) One member representing landowners, appointed jointly by the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association and New Hampshire Farm Bureau.
(11) One representative of the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, appointed by the association.
(12) One member representing the New Hampshire Society for the Protection of Forests, the Appalachian Mountain Club, and the Nature Conservancy, appointed jointly by those organizations.
(13) One representative of the New Hampshire Rail Trail Coalition, appointed by the coalition.
(14) Two members of the public; one of whom shall be appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions; and one of whom shall be appointed by the North Country Council who shall be an abutter.
III. Duties. The commission shall study:
(a) Current statutes related to OHRVs, including but not limited to RSA 215-A and RSA 259:108.
(b) How the fish and game department, the state police, county sheriffs, and municipal police work together to provide consistency in enforcement of current laws related to OHRVs.
(c) Positive and adverse effects of OHRV use on state and town roads, including class 5 and class 6 roads.
(d) The effects of noise, dust, and careless or reckless behavior of riders on abutters to trails and roads where OHRVs are used.
(e) Education and safety requirements for OHRV riders.
(f) Positive and adverse effects of OHRV activity upon the state and local economies.
(g) The impacts of requiring all rental agents to install speed regulating governors on any OHRV provided to members of the general public for temporary use and the impacts of requiring charging infrastructure near trail heads.
(h) All other issues related to OHRVs which come before the committee.
IV. Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Six members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. Report. The commission shall report its findings and recommend proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1 of each year.