Nicholas Bridle

Written Testimony in Support of HB 1751-FN as the Prime Sponsor (For the Public Record) New Hampshire’s state parks are among our most valued public assets. They draw residents and visitors alike to our coastline, mountains, lakes, forests, and historic sites. With that visitation comes a shared responsibility: keeping people safe. HB 1751 establishes a modest 5 percent public safety surcharge on paid parking at state park facilities and returns those funds directly to the municipalities that host those parks. The revenue is dedicated solely to public safety services connected to park use, including police, fire, and emergency medical response. Across New Hampshire, local communities shoulder the real-world impacts of park visitation. In the Seacoast, that may mean coastal rescues and high-volume summer response. In the Lakes Region, it includes marine patrols and ice rescues. In the North Country and White Mountains, it can mean search and rescue operations, wildfire response, and emergency care in remote terrain. These services require specialized training, equipment, and staffing, often during peak tourism seasons when demand is highest. HB 1751 helps align responsibility with impact. Visitors benefit from safe, well-managed parks, and this bill ensures that the communities providing those public safety services receive dedicated support. Importantly, this surcharge is in addition to existing parking rates and does not reduce funding for the New Hampshire State Park system. The goal is not to take resources away from parks, but to strengthen the partnership between the state and the municipalities that support them. The bill is intentionally narrow and transparent. It uses existing parking infrastructure, creates no new criminal penalties, and requires public reporting on revenue and distribution. Funds are distributed quarterly and proportionally, and may be used only for public safety purposes attributable to park visitation. HB 1751 is not about one town, one region, or one type of incident. It is about ensuring that New Hampshire’s entire park system remains safe, accessible, and sustainable—today and into the future—while providing meaningful tax relief to host communities. I respectfully ask for thoughtful consideration and support of HB 1751. Thank you for your time and engagement.