LAWS/RULES

N.H. STATUTES (LAWS)

State statutes are created by the New Hampshire Legislature and are published in the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated and serve as legal authority for the Department.

All current New Hampshire state laws can be found at the Revised Statutes Online website. Most laws for the N.H. Fish and Game Department are listed under TITLE XVIII: FISH AND GAME (CLICK here).

Legislative Process: 

It is through the legislative process that laws are adopted, repealed or changed. CLICK here to learn more.

To access all information about the Legislature, go to the N.H. General Court website. This site will give you access to find a wealth of information, not only about legislation (bills) being considered, hearing dates and bill status, but all kinds of information including contact information for your State Senators and Representatives and the committees on which they serve.  Most of the Fish and Game-related bills go through these two policy committees:

• House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee (CLICK here)
• Senate Wildlife, Fish and Game and Agriculture Committee (CLICK here)

Interested in the status of a particular wildlife-related or other bill? Check out the State Legislation Dash Board (CLICK here) for various ways to search bills to get up to date information.

N.H. CODE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

The N.H. Code of Administrative Rules is promulgated by state agencies under the Administrative Procedure Act (RSA 541-A). State Administrative Rules are used to specify the implementation of a statute and have the full force and effect of law.

• Click here for Fish and Game's current Administrative Rules
  

Rulemaking Process

How are state rules changed or updated? The Office of Legislative Services has prepared several concise articles to help you understand New Hampshire's regulatory (rulemaking) process:

• What is an Administrative Rule?
• Flow chart of the rulemaking process

Whenever Fish and Game is going to change a rule, the public process begins with the publication of the NOTICE form, which provides a summary of the proposed rules, the date, time and location of the public hearing(s) and the public comment period. After the public hearing, the Department publishes the Final Proposal, which contains the changes made as a result of public comment, and one of the last steps is when the Final Proposal goes before the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) for their review and approval.