Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 291 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Penalties for improper fertilizer use

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the penalty for incorrect application of fertilizers.

Establishes graduated penalties for incorrect application of fertilizer to urban turf and lawns, ranging from a written warning for a first offense to a misdemeanor for a third or subsequent offense.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 1, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill establishes graduated penalties for the incorrect application of fertilizer depending on whether it is a first, second, or third offense.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to a $250 fine per acre for a second offense; and (c) Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for a third or subsequent offense.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Erica LayonRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture

Public testimony

178 signed in online · 119 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose1% neutral

ForBill appropriately reduces an overly harsh criminal penalty

AgainstFines must be retained as a deterrent

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“This bill should be amended to impose fines for those that continue to ignore violations.”
— Catherine Schelling, Laconiasupports
“Any fertilization near the water of NH may have deleterious effects on water quality and should be subject to Dept of Agriculture maximum amounts.”
— Tanya McIntire, Granthamsupports
“This bill needs an important amendment. It seems reasonable to remove the criminal penalty provision from a previous bill, but the provision for possible fines should be kept. That deterrent is extremely important.…”
— Stephen Barker, Springfieldsupports
“I am writing as the president of the Pleasant Lake Protective Association and vehemently opposing this bill.…”
— Doug Baxter, New London · Pleasant Lake Protective Associationopposes
“While I support the intent of HB 291 to downgrade the incorrect application of fertilizer to a violation instead of subjecting the violator to criminal penalties (like imposing a felony charge). However, I do not support removing fines associated with the knowing and repeated incorrect application of fertilizers.…”
— John D. Sheehan, New Londonopposes
“The downgraded bill MUST have some consequences or it will be widely ignored. Making it a misdemeanor is appropriate but a hefty fine is also appropriate to ensure compliance.”
— Matthew Towne, Barringtonopposes
“The Bill should be amended to downgrade the incorrect application of fertilizer to a violation instead of subjecting the violator to criminal penalties - AND - Fines should NOT be levied until there has been 1 prior violation, issued as a Warning - and that the next violation will result in a Fine.”
— Ron Rayner, concord nhneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Jan 29, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0156h (NT)15–1
    Overall
    94% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0156hadopted
  • Feb 13, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0156hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 24, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety3:31:09–3:32:171m 8slocated in the stream transcript==CANCELLED== Public Hearing; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0156h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0156h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate JudiciaryWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 2 P. 13
  2. Jan 24, 2025House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/24/2025 03:30 pm LOB 202-204
  3. Jan 24, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/24/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  4. Jan 24, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 01/24/2025 01:30 pm LOB 202-204
  5. Jan 29, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0156h (NT) 01/29/2025 (Vote 15-1; CC) HC 11 P. 3
  6. Feb 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0156h: AA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 6
  7. Feb 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0156h: MA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 6
  8. Mar 6, 2025SenIntroduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  9. Mar 18, 2025SenHearing: 03/18/2025, Room 100, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 13
  10. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 15
  11. May 1, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/01/2025; SC 19
  12. May 1, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/01/2025; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.