Starting January 1, 2025, New Hampshire now requires boats registered in the state to display an additional decal in compliance with federal law. New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Motor Vehicles necessitates this second decal to protect federal funding for the New Hampshire Marine Patrol under House Bill 1304. This new decal separates the collection of boat registration and boat fees for other programs into two transactions, bringing the state into compliance with federal regulations. This process creates a separate transaction for existing fees that were previously collected through registration.
This change follows a Coast Guard audit in which New Hampshire was found to have a conflict between state and federal legislation. To remain eligible for federal funding through the Coast Guard, New Hampshire had to rectify the issue through HB 1304. This funding is critical for programs such as aquatic invasive plant management and prevention, search and rescue, and public boat ramp access and maintenance. For more information on boat registration and these changes, visit the NH Division of Motor Vehicles website here.