New Hampshire Fish and Game asked the Senate Capital Budget Committee for $350,000 in capital authorization to replace a 30‑plus‑year‑old John Deere backhoe the agency says is no longer repairable and poses safety risks to staff.

Fish and Game Executive Director Stephanie Simic told committee members the backhoe is used statewide by the lands and facilities divisions and for habitat and boat‑launch projects, and parts are no longer available for the existing unit. She said the agency had included replacement in last year’s request and is seeking capital funding to spread the cost over a bond rather than tap operating funds.

Committee members queried seasonal use and whether leasing would be cheaper. Simic said the machine is used year‑round for work “bigger than ditches,” including creating boat launches, building roads and bridges, and restructuring habitat. She said leasing was considered and found to be “hugely expensive.” The committee chair asked that Fish and Game confirm conversations with the Department of Transportation about possible equipment sharing; Simic said such conversations had occurred and she would follow up.

Separately, Simic acknowledged the department paused its grant‑match for some community fishing derbies this year. Senator remarks described towns paying significantly more to buy fish when derby hosts used outside vendors after Fish and Game paused its match. Simic said the pause was her decision based on projections of hatchery production during a multi‑year hatchery modernization effort and called it a “temporary pause for this year.” She said the department is reassessing options for next year and looking for alternative avenues, including nonprofit partnerships, to support derby hosts.

The committee did not vote on the backhoe request during the hearing. No formal motion or tally was recorded on either the backhoe replacement or the derby‑matching pause.

Fish and Game Chief of Business Operations Kathy Labonte joined Simic at the table and answered technical and operational questions from senators during the session.