Upcoming Legislative Meetings and Voting Sessions
Note: A House or Senate Floor Session is when the full House or Senate votes on the committee’s recommendation on a bill. The recommendation can be changed by a vote on the floor. Members of the public can watch the floor action from the House or Senate Gallery, 3rd floor of the State House or listen in via the General Court’s website for streaming audio/video.
March 24th and 25th House Floor Sessions
HB 220: Adding a civil forfeiture process to the animal cruelty violations. Committee recommendation “Inexpedient to Legislate.” (17-2)
Position: DOGS opposed the bill.
HB247: change the law pertaining to complaints filed due to the abuse of domestic animals. Instead of the state veterinarian being the first contact, the complaint shall be initially filed with the local law enforcement agency, animal control officer, state police, or sheriff, with jurisdiction over where the animal is kept. At the request of the contacted law enforcement agency, the state veterinarian shall assist in a secondary capacity in enforcing the provisions of law and investigating said complaints. Status: Recommended for passage with amendment by the House Environment and Agriculture Committee. Committee voted 16-0.
Position: DOGS supports the State Veterinarian’s reasons for requesting the bill.
HB 278: increases the penalty from a class A misdemeanor to a class B felony for cruelty to service animals. The committee feels that the current RSA 167-D:9 is sufficient punishment in these cases. Status: Criminal Justice Committee voted 19-0 on recommendation “Inexpedient to Legislate.”
Position: DOGS maintained that the bill was unnecessary.
STATUS OF OTHER LEGISLATION
Bill that are still Active
HB 148: Relative to health certificates as evidence of the transfer of dog, cat or ferret. Requiring an annual vet statement for exemption from rabies vaccination. Status: Passed House with amendment. Awaiting Senate action.
HB345: Allowing physical therapists to practice on animals. Status: Awaiting public hearing date in House Executive Departments Committee.
SB 13: Declaring the Chinook the state dog. Status: Passed Senate. Awaiting public hearing in House Environment & Agriculture Committee.
SB 137: Establishing a “pet friendly” license plate. Status: Tabled in Senate.
SB 19: Relative to governmental immunity from liability lawsuits for municipal dog parks. Status: Passed Senate. Public hearing scheduled in House Judiciary Committee on April 2nd at 1pm..
SB 156: Relative to the commission to study the creation of an animal care worker classification. Status: Public hearing scheduled in the Senate Executive Depts. Committee for March 24th at 2:20pm.
