NH House Testimony

HB1078

House · 2026 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Gold Star family license plates

AI

Creates gold star mother, gold star father, and gold star family license plates for immediate family members of service members killed on duty, issued upon proof of eligibility with no additional plate fee.

creating a gold star family and gold star father license plate.

Military & Veterans' AffairsMotor Vehicles

Status

Signed into law · May 21, 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

158 submissions
Support 103Oppose 55Neutral 0

Argument digest · AI-generated

from 66 of 66 written submissions

HB1078 would create Gold Star family and Gold Star father license plates in New Hampshire, extending the existing Gold Star Mother plate to fathers and other family members of service members who died in service. Submissions engaging with the actual bill were almost entirely supportive, framing the plates as a meaningful way to honor fallen service members and their families, with many citing the case of a specific local soldier as motivation; the only substantive on-topic objection favored a single unified Gold Star plate rather than separate designs. (A large number of additional submissions tagged to this bill were about an unrelated bicycle-registration proposal and are excluded here as off-topic.)

Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.

Becky BentOpposeNorthwood, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Absolute trash to charge fees for people to enjoy the outdoors on bicycles. I have 3 kids and each kid has two different style bikes for riding. Want them to become shitty humans of society stuck inside on the tablets everyday? We already pay enough taxes and state fees. Enough!

Edward ChauveyOpposeNottingham, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

All bicyclists should not be penalized for the irresponsible few - just like car drivers, it's up to the rider to be responsible. I whole heartedly oppose this bill. Over the years I have a collection of bikes (some only get ridden a couple times a year) that will cost me hundreds each year.

Tom MelansonOpposeBarrington, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

It is ridiculous. Legalize Marijuana and reaper the benefits like every other NE state.

Melissa WOODSOpposeNewmarket, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I am not sure why you are trying to deter people from riding bicycles. If you’d like to impose a registration perhaps look to those electronic scooters that people are riding more and more these days. For a bicycle that you use for exercise to require a registration on that is just awful.

Jessica GlennSupportBedford, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I support the Gold Star family license plate bill. I do not think it’s necessary to have a Gold Star father license plate if the expense of creating additional license plates to identify the specific relationship to the deceased soldier is a deterrent for passing this bill. I am a Gold Star wife with 3 school aged children - their father died of a service connected illness after 3 combat tours, I unfortunately can not make it to the State House in person to support this bill. We moved from Massachusetts where they do have a Gold Star family license plate. I believe that having a specialized plate allows people who see them to pause and reflect. Perhaps ask themselves - “What is a Gold Star family?” Some don’t even know what a Gold Star family is. I think the projected costs to make these license plates are minimal to what was sacrificed to “earn” this title of a Gold Star family member. A Gold Star family can not have a Veterans plate in NH- these are reserved only for the actual Veteran. The NH state provided Gold Star sticker decals are too large to adhere to a license plate. They cover up the numbers/letters on the plate. 47 states and 1 US territory currently have Gold Star license plates. I believe that New Hampshire needs to abide by it’s “live free or die” motto and respect those Gold Star family members who have lost spouses, children, parents, and siblings (the relationships that define a Gold Star family) - these veterans died to ensure the freedoms of the people in NH and the USA. Please make New Hampshire the last of the 3 states in this country to adopt this law. Thank you.

Denise BoyntonSupportLancaster, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I fully support this bill to honor our fallen veterans and recognize the sacrifices made by their families.

Ashley SalasOpposeClaremont, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

As someone who has ridden bikes since I was a child, this will cause children to be uncomfortable riding bikes since they will be asked for paper work for just having fun. We already pay enough in state taxes to cover trails being maintained. Unless there will be new things available in the parks and recreation dept for people to get out and do for free. Then this bill doesn’t make much sense.

Hannah MeiselmanSupportMachester, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Providing a voluntary way to honor Gold Star families recognizes sacrifice and service while remaining optional and non-punitive for other drivers.

Kristy DonaghyOpposeNashua, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Bike registration visa, fifty dollars is insanity.Most people who ride bikes can't afford any transportation.

Heather FletcherOpposeDublin, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I think this bill is insane. It will discourage families from riding bikes. Do not move forward with this. It is a very bad idea.

Claudia LarrowOpposeThornton, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

By charging a fee to ride bicycles, you are both limiting the freedoms of citizens, widening the economic disparities (families that can’t afford it now can’t ride bikes but wealthy families can), discouraging exercise in our youth and general population, and encouraging environmental harm by promoting use of cars over bikes, for this who need their cars but can’t afford to also register their bikes. This is nonsensical.

Denise ValleeSupportGorham, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Any family or father that has lost a son/daughter while serving their country deserves to display this designation on their license plate.

Suzanne BartelsOpposeAlbany, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Next we will be fined for walking on a side walk..

Kristin DeaneOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

This will mean my young children won’t be able to ride their bikes, and will take away a way of healthy living and exercise that are detrimental to children

Darlene FarrellOpposeHopkinton, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Why are we proposing this for children? Why can’t you get money other ways?

Mark TobiasOpposeHampden, MAfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

In what world do you tax a child’s bicycle?! There are agencies out there collecting bikes for under privileged kids that can’t afford them and you want to tax the $50 a year?! To ride a bike? You should be ashamed of yourself

Crystal GiggiOpposeMerrimack, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

My family strongly opposes this bill for a number of reasons: Personnel administration, oversight, trail repair and responsibility will significant outweigh the income from registration fees. Trail maintenance and repair is currently performed weekly on a volunteer basis by many individuals; this registration fee will cause a reduction or elimination of that support. The supporters of this bill must be unaware of the hours currently spent by volunteers . This fee will be a hardship for lower income families. Some will chose to either not have a bike or not register. Bicycles on roads reduce emissions and zero damage to roadways. Why would we charge a fee for that? Getting healthy by participating in outdoor activities should be encouraged, not be looked at as another way for the state to collect fees. Thank you for reading this and most importantly for your consideration.

Jacob McGonagleSupportClarksville, TNfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I served with this man. He was hands-down one of the best men I’ve ever known. He was what you would call a morale officer when he opened up he wouldn’t shut up and it was always something funny. His death was a tragedy, but his memory could live on with the signing of this bill. You would be doing his family, and the rest of the Goldstar families is a great service by allowing this

Christine ForestOpposeLancaster, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I oppose the bill.

Jennifer WalterOpposeChichester, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

As a member of the community I oppose this bill. There are several reasons that I oppose this bill. As a person who works with children, I see first had how screen time takes up so much of their lives and riding bicycles is an activity that does get them outside. Families already struggle to make ends meet and by implementing a annual registration fee on bicycles would create a barrier to families providing bikes for their children. The second reason is that there are people who can't afford vehicles and use bicycles as transportation to their employment. By implementing a $50 annual registration could also create a barrier and cause a break in employment which would be a burden on our local and state welfare department. Third, our country as a whole has a high percent of obesity and riding a bicycle is a form of free exercise that individuals use that is low impact on their bodies. By implementing a registration fee may cause a barrier to those individuals. Lastly, its a recreational activity for not only NH residents, but tourists as well and this bill could have a financial impact.

Ron PeddleOpposeDanville, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I oppose HB1078 regarding the registration of bicycles, e-bikes, and pedal assist bikes for the following reasons. 1. Requiring a registration fee for bicycles would create a financial hardship for families, senior citizens, residents, and physically challenged people who use bicycling as a form of exercise and physical therapy. 2. A registration system amounts to another tax by the State. The potential for the funds to be mismanaged, and wasted, is significant. 3. Bicycles paths and lanes are already funded locally and controlled locally. If a community wants a bicycle path or lane they can place the item on a local ballot or discuss it at local town meeting. The State should not be involved at all. 4. OHRV funds are already used to maintain many trails. Motor vehicle registration fees are used to maintain public roads, and volunteers and donations are used to maintain mountain bike trails such as those in North Conway. 5. Requiring a child to maintain proof of registration is unrealistic. 6. Requiring police officers to conduct enforcement actions on bike lanes, paths, and roadways is unrealistic, and counterproductive to community relations and a waste of resources. 7. Registration fees (TAX) would negatively effect bicycle shops (sales) across the State. 8. This Bill (Tax) actually serves no purpose for the good of the residents and would harm the health of its residents. In conclusion, this bill is a frightening example of how the House of Representatives create new taxes and redundant laws.

Kerry SummersOpposeNew London, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Hi, I oppose this bill for many reasons: Registration fees and penalties would discourage bicycling, undermining public health, quality of life, and tourism The bill would make New Hampshire far less bike-friendly, harming the state’s tourism economy It would disproportionately affect people who rely on bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, especially those with limited incomes 1. The cost of implementing the registration program may exceed the revenue it generates; the fiscal note states that revenues cannot be determined 2. It would disproportionately affect people who rely on bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, especially those with limited incomes 3. Registration fees and penalties would discourage bicycling, undermining public health, quality of life, and tourism It seems like the whole goal of the registration is to stop people from cycling. The annual registration of a bicycle may cost more than the price of a child’s bike - but it would need to be registered to ride on our rail trails, where there’s no auto traffic. New drivers would have more rights than 16-years-old cyclists. Proof of ownership may be impossible to demonstrate when bikes are often handed down. This doesn’t appear to be solving REAL problems, of which our state has many. Best, Kerry Summers

Phyllis DrouinOpposeRaymond, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

You are INSANE and OUT OF CONTROL! Tax riding bikes? Seriously you need to have your head examined.

Susan LabonvilleSupportShelburne, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

I support this bill, both parents of a service member that is killed in the line of duty should receive gold star status

Mark MurrayOpposeBedford, NHfor MyselfJan 27, 2026

Why we eliminate the state vehicle inspection and then impose a $50 per bike to ride in this state? That is just plain stupid! I would think we would want to encourage bicycle riding as it leads to a healthier community. A healthier community is less taxing on our health care system which everyone knows is getting less resources every year. What is even the purpose of this bill? Will we tax out of state bicycles as well?