New Hampshire Overview – 2024 Session
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Legislative Overview – 2023-24 Session
(Adjourned on June 13, 2024)
22 pet related items were proposed during the 2023-24 legislative session, 11 of which were designated as priority by the Pet Advocacy Network.
Final Disposition of Priority ISSUES:
| BILL # | SUMMARY | FINAL DISPOSITION |
| Executive Order 2024-01 | Governor’s Commission on the Humane Treatment of Animals: Executive Order No. 2024-01 re-establishes the Governor’s Commission on the Humane Treatment of Animals. | SIGNED BY GOVERNOR (EFFECTIVE 1/1/24) |
| HB 37 | Pet Groomer Committee: An Act establishing a committee to study best practices for companion animal groomers. | COMMITTEE FAILED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE |
| HB 1102 | Animal Cruelty Definition Amendment (Brachycephalic): Amends Title LXII (Criminal Code), Chapter 644 (Breaches of Peace & Related Offenses), Section 644:8 (Cruelty to Animals) of NH Revised Statutes Annotated to add the sale of certain animals with deformities to the definition of animal cruelty. | DIED ON HOUSE TABLE (MISSED CROSSOVER DEADLINE) |
| HB 1117 | Study Committee – Business Accommodation for Service Animals: Creates a committee to study the protection of business operators against requests to accommodate customers with fraudulent or untrained service animals. | REFERRED FOR INTERIM STUDY (2025 ISSUE) |
| HB 1505 | Statewide Animal Abuser Registry: Amends Title LXII (Criminal Code) of New Hampshire Statutes by adding a new Chapter 651-G to establish a registry for persons convicted of animal cruelty. | COMMITTEE FAILED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE |
| HB 1680/SB 541 | Statewide Retail Pet Sale Ban: Amends Title XL (Agriculture, Horticulture & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 437 (Sale of Pets and Disposition of Unclaimed Animals), Sections 437:5 (Transfer of Animals & Birds – Prohibition), 437:7 (Exceptions) and 437:10 (Penalty) of NH Revised Statutes Annotated to prohibit the sale of dogs and cats by retail pet stores. | HB 1680: COMMITTEE FAILED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE SB 541: REFERRED FOR INTERIM STUDY (2025 ISSUE) |
| HB 1684 | Non-Economic Damages Awards: Amends Title LII (Actions, Process & Service of Process), Chapter 507 (Actions), Section 507:8a (Loss of Consortium) of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated to provide that a person is entitled to recover damages for loss or impairment of right of consortium involving the death of that person’s pet when caused intentionally or recklessly. | COMMITTEE FAILED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE |
| SB 587 | Animal Import/Quarantine Restrictions: Amends Title XL (Agriculture, Horticulture & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 437 (Sale of Pets and Disposition of Unclaimed Animals), Sections 437:8 (Health Certificates for Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) and 437:9 (Rulemaking Authority) relative to animals brought into New Hampshire. | ENACTED (EFFECTIVE ON 8/13/24) |
| REG 2024-001 | Animal Records Database Implementation Rulemaking: A proposed rulemaking to amend the NH Code of Administrative Rules (Department of Agriculture, Markets, & Food) by adopting a new Chapter Agriculture 4100 (Electronic Animal Records System) to implement the Animal Records Database created by RSA 437:8-a (Animal Records Database Established), which directs the Department to establish and contract with a third party for the implementation and operation of an electronic system to facilitate the handling of animal records. | PENDING |
| REG 2024-002 | Amendments to Transfer of Animals and Birds Statute Rulemaking: A proposed rulemaking to amend and readopt Chapter Agriculture 1700 (Transfer of Animals and Birds) of the NH Code of Administrative Rules (Department of Agriculture, Markets, & Food) by providing: (1) New definitions; (2) Amended licensing thresholds; and (3) Additional animal facility standards. | PENDING |
View ALL New Hampshire legislation tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.
View ALL local ordinances tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2024 session.
View ALL federal and state issues tracked by the Pet Advocacy Network during the 2023-24 session.