Fwd: [Upper Valley Velo] NH proposed bill HB1703 to require $50 Annual Bike Registration for every bike!

[linda muri]

With a large amount of crossover within our community, I hope there is support to oppose this bill. See below for the link and how to indicate your position. 

The Prouty is also encouraging opposition to the bill. 

Many thanks,

Linda


Begin forwarded message:

From: Jodee Allen
Date: January 23, 2026 at 22:29:02 GMT+1
To: Upper Valley Velo 
Subject: [Upper Valley Velo] NH proposed bill  HB1703 to require $50 Annual Bike Registration for every bike!



A bill pending in the New Hampshire House would create a $50 annual registration fee for every bicycle, including e-bikes. A full text of HB1703 is avalable.

A Public Hearing is being held on Tuesday, January 27th at 11:00 AM.  New Hampshire has a link to register your opinion on this bill. HB1703 is being proposed by the House Transportation Committee.

https://gc.nh.gov/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

The information below is from a notice sent out by Bike the North Country.

 What HB1703 Would Do:

• Require annual $50 registration fee for all bicycles, including e-bikes, used on state or municipally funded paths, trails, and roadways
• Require proof of ownership or authorization from the owner
• Require parental sign-off for riders under 18
• Require riders to either display a registration sticker on the bike or carry the registration certificate while riding
• Impose a $100 fine for riding an unregistered bicycle
• They say they will direct registration fees and penalties toward the creation and maintenance of bicycle routes, lanes, paths, and trails but they can't even estimate the cost to administer the fees or fees expected to be raised
• Eliminate municipal authority under RSA 265:149 to require local bicycle registration

Why This Bill is Likely to Advance:

The bill is sponsored by the Chair of the House Transportation Committee, which significantly increases the likelihood that it will receive favorable consideration—unless there is strong public opposition.

How To Take Action:

You can submit your position on HB1703 by completing the online form (see the link above):

• Select January 27
• Choose Transportation Committee
• Enter HB1703
• Indicate that you oppose the bill
• You may also submit written comments or upload testimony - please do!!

Or you can attend the hearing in person: 11:00 AM, January 27, Room 234, Granite Place, Concord

You may sign up to testify or simply sign in and indicate why this is so bad for riders and the state.

[Margie Elsberg]

Every bike?  That means NH residents, road bikers, mountain bikers, bike club members, individual tourists, organized multi day rides (think Backroads and dozens more, some super-expensive), fundraising rides (The Prouty’s just one of many) and bike riders from neighboring states.  This is nuts.  Ski areas that have added mountain bike programs to make up for shorter ski seasons, hotels, college campuses, inns, B&Bs, caterers and restaurants that house and feed multi day riders—all will be hit hard, in addition to the bikers themselves.

On Jan 24, 2026, at 8:27 AM, linda muri <linda...@gmail.com> wrote:





Q

You may sign up to testify or simply sign in and indicate why this is so bad for riders and the state.

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[Peggy Sadler]

Any idea if Vermonters can chime in? Can we help NH bike owners somehow?

Peggy Sadler

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[Ann Whitney]

I just filled out the form and there’s a section where you put your state and town. It’s not blocking other states from expressing their  opinion, from what i can see. out of staters are definitely affected by this bill! Anyone who rides in New Hampshire has to have a registration. Ann

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[Carole Bibeau]

Hi everyone

I am a Norwich resident. I am not a lawyer. I did review the RSA. Respectfully, I can't see explicit language that out of state people need to register their bikes to operate in NH. I am just not sure how NH could mandate that  people coming from out of state and operating bikes in NH would be subject to this fee. Doesn't that encroach on other States' rights?

happy to hear from others about their interpretation of this proposed law

Thank you

Carole Bibeau

(non-rower friend of Peggy, Paul, Linda, Rowan, Margie, Mickey, Karen, etc)

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[Carole Bibeau]

Hi again

Thanks for indulging me

Here is what I sent to NH in opposition of the bill, for what it is worth

Carole Bibeau

The proposed bill is not clear on if non-NH residents who ride bicycles in NH need to pay this fee. I live in a bordering town in Norwich VT and ride fairly frequently in NH. The analogue to this is car registrations. I don't have to pay an extra registration fee to drive my VT registered car in NH on NH roadways, so why would there be a separate fee for bicycles from out of state?. The bill needs to clarify if it applies only to NH residents and their bicycles.
The other concern I have is that this is a regressive fee for poorer NH residents who may not be able to afford a car for transportation and rely on a bicycle to get them to/from work or other important places in life eg work, grocery stores, medical appts, and school. It also creates a financial disincentive for NH residents (including families with children) to use bicycles as a means of carbon-free transportation, and/or a healthy means of exercise. I understand there is additional cost to creating bike lanes on current roadways. If there were a healthier population of NH residents as a result of more people riding bicycles for commuting and/or exercise, this could offset some costs associated with health care under Medicaid. Thank you for your consideration.

[Margie Elsberg]

It says if a person is biking on New Hampshire public roads, paths, or property, they must be able to show that they paid the bike fee.  The bill doesn’t care where the rider is from, just that they’re biking in NH.

On Jan 26, 2026, at 12:09 PM, Carole Bibeau <carole....@gmail.com> wrote:



[M-J H]

So when my friend rides in from Massachusetts for a day ride with me, she can be stopped and charged a $100 fine? This seems ridiculous and unenforceable. Also, don’t we pay enough toward transportation infrastructure already for the amount of benefits we see for cyclists? 

Mary-Jo Haronian, PhD

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[Tiffany Duval]

Good news!

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-bill-bicycle-registration-fee-012726/70164470

Sent from Gmail Mobile

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[Lexa Meigs]

Yeah!

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[Kate Semple Barta]

Wait! Did folks see that our Addie is quoted in this article?! 

On Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 11:12 AM Tiffany Duval <tif....@gmail.com> wrote:

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