HB 1231-FN-LOCAL, relative to dog licenses. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE.
Rep. Richard Gordon for Environment and Agriculture. This bill would have raised by $0.50 the dog license fee for seniors, those 65 years or older. The increase was requested solely by one town clerk who thought that the currently discounted dog license fee for seniors set in statute causes his or her office to receive $0.50 less of the normal $1 administrative fee for processing dog licenses. Since this is not true, the fee for seniors does not need to be raised. Vote 13-0.
HB 1723-FN, relative to the reckless beating of animals. INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE.
Rep. Anne Copp for Environment and Agriculture. This bill has unintended consequences with grave results by making it a felony for an individual to cause the death of an animal through negligence, even for a first offense, or to cause harm to an animal unknowingly. Other bills were introduced this session that may better address this important issue, in particular, one that is now working its way through the Senate.
Vote 13-0.
