UPDATE - 2/13/25

Good news! House Bill 202: House Committee Vote 14-1, Inexpedient to Legislate.

Fortunately, the bill’s forward progress is all but over. Today, the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee voted today 14-1 against the bill after it took public testimony yesterday afternoon at the state house. Delivering testimony for New England BHA was Board Member and NH Team leader, Heather Kusmierz.

Why New Hampshire House Bill 202 is Bad for Wildlife Conservation 

There is a growing trend across the country to undermine science-based wildlife management and subvert the public trust doctrine that serves as an underpinning of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. One of the forms these attacks are taking is an ideologically motivated attempt to change the composition of state wildlife boards and commissions. New Hampshire House Bill 202 is the latest effort to do this in New England.  

HB 202 makes several key changes to the management and governance of New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department. The most significant shifts include: 

1. Weakening the Role of the Fish and Game Commission – It changes its role from decision-making to merely advising the executive director. 

1. Expanding the Executive Director’s Authority – The executive director gains more control over wildlife management, including setting hunting seasons, wildlife population control, and agreements with private entities. 

1. Changes in Funding and Partnerships – It alters how gifts, donations, and partnerships are managed, removing commission approval for many financial decisions. 

This bill is bad news for wildlife and the future of conservation in New Hampshire. It weakens the role of the Fish and Game Commission and consolidates power under a single political appointee. Presently, the eleven-member commission is designed to be politically balanced, with no more than 6 of the commissioners being of the same political party. Also important is that there is a commissioner representing each county in the state. To eliminate that representation is a dangerous shift away from a proven system of management as it relegates it to political whims and cycles.  

At the end of the day, this bill would sideline the very people who care most about our wild places—scientists, hunters and anglers, conservationists, and local communities. Wildlife management should be based on science and the North American Model of Conservation, not left to the shifting political winds. If we want to protect our hunting heritage and ensure that future generations have healthy wildlife populations to pursue, we need to oppose this bill and keep decision-making in the hands of more representative body of stakeholders.  

On February 12th 2025, New England Chapter leader, Heather Kusmierz, submitted testimony to the New Hampshire House of Representatives opposing this bill. Read that testimony HERE.