July 21, 2025

CSF Swings for the Fences Scoring Session Sweep in New Hampshire

Article Contact: Fred Bird,

Why It Matters: It is no secret that the sporting-conservation community has to play a lot of defense in the Northeast. You’ll typically find the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) working hard to defeat proposed legislation that has negative ramifications for conservation and the sporting community vs. and eking out a few pro-sportsmen victories when possible. During the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session, we saw a 58% to 42% split of anti vs. pro legislation in terms of the bills that were introduced.  This year however, with one remaining pro-sportsmen bill still awaiting Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature to make things official, CSF has secured wins on both sides and will have successfully batted 1.000 on advancing all pro and defeating all negative policies in which we engaged.

Highlights

  • HB 720 would have (if passed) prohibited the importation of bait fish from outside New Hampshire, threatening commonly used fishing methods and preferred bait for New Hampshire anglers. This bill was defeated.
  • HB 211, which allows Airguns as a means of take and authorizes the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department to bring about an annual tag or institute a one-time stamp to account for conservation funding, as such platforms do not contribute directly to Pittman-Robertson, passed and was signed into law.
  • A House Declaration celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingle-Johnson) was passed, recognizing the contributions of New Hampshires angling and boating community to conservation in the Granite State.
  • HB 655 was passed and enrolled and now awaits the Governor’s signature, which will significantly increase financial penalties against poachers and those illegally in possession of certain wildlife species. It further increases license suspension for such take on individuals.

With the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session in the rear-view, CSF is happy to report the defeat of all the anti-sportsmen bills and the advancement of all of the pro-sportsmen proposals we engaged on.

Many of the bad bills were repeat offenders. Common themes included attacks on the New Hampshire Fish & Game (a now perennial issue in the state), attempts to institute multi-day waiting periods on firearms transfers, and attacks on science-based wildlife management, specifically related to the management of the anti’s favorite “victim”, the Eastern Coyote. Of note was the attempt to prohibit the importation of live bait from outside states into the state via HB 720. In short, it would have created barriers for less skilled and low-income anglers who would have had to change to artificial lures at greater expense and significant learning curves if they elected to continue in this popular Granite State pastime.

As for the pro-sportsmen policies:

As reported over the last two sessions, significant efforts went into Airgun legislation which was finally advanced setting up new opportunities for hunters for multiple species while also providing a mechanism for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to increase sportsmen-generated conservation funding. New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Co-Chair, Rep. James Spillane sponsored the bill and drove it to final passage.

CSF also secured a House Declaration recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingle-Johnson) and the contributions of New Hampshire’s angling and boating community to conservation in the Granite State. New Hampshire Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Will Darby sponsored the Declaration and secured it in the House.

Finally, HB 655 awaits Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature, but when officially law it will significantly increase financial penalties against poachers and those illegally in possession of certain wildlife species. It further increases license suspension for such take on individuals. This is long overdue and highlights the value of New Hampshire’s wildlife. Long have the penalties for poaching amounted to those for speeding or parking tickets with (essentially) slaps on the wrist concerning license suspension. Once again, Co-Chair Rep. James Spillane sponsored the bill and drove it to final passage along with Caucus Members in both chambers.

CSF thanks all the Caucus Members and Co-Chairs in the New Hampshire Legislature for their leadership in advancing pro-sporting legislation and thwarting anti-legislation. Planning starts now for proactive priority policy introduction as CSF looks forward to the 2026 legislative session.

States Involved: