Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 240 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Dog license fee nonpayment penalties

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to nonpayment of dog licensing fees.

Changes the law to allow, rather than require, local governing bodies to issue warrants for civil forfeiture of an unlicensed dog for nonpayment of dog license fees.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 changes the law to enable local governing bodies to issue warrants for civil forfeiture of an unlicensed dog for nonpayment of dog license fees. The law currently requires local governing bodies to issue warrants for civil forfeiture of an unlicensed dog for nonpayment of dog license fees.

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

“The town or city clerk shall annually, between June 1 and June 20, present to the local governing body a list of those owners of dogs that have failed to license or not renewed their dog licenses pursuant to RSA 466:1.”
RSA 466:14
“The local governing body [shall] may, within 20 days from June 20, issue a warrant to a local official authorized to issue a civil forfeiture for each unlicensed dog.”
RSA 466:14
“The warrant may also authorize a local law enforcement officer to seize any unlicensed dog.”
RSA 466:14
“The civil forfeiture may be sent by certified mail, or delivered in hand, or left at the abode of the dog owner.”
RSA 466:14

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Tom MannionRPrimeAssistant Majority Whip
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRVice Chair· Judiciary

Also: Rep. Sandra PanekR, Rep. Jeffrey TenczarR, Rep. Tim MannionR

Public testimony

13 signed in online

54% support46% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0193h (NT)16–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0193hadopted
  • Feb 13, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0193hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Apr 10, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 1, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate3–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 21, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture3:36:45–3:39:583m 13slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Jan 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:44:20–1:45:291m 9slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture2:17:25–2:23:516m 26slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0193h (NT); Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateHouse floor51:31–51:5928slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0193h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0193h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety18:05–20:432m 38slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Apr 10, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 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; 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 Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 12
  2. Jan 21, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Jan 28, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2025 11:00 am LOB 301-303
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  5. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 11:45 am LOB 301-303
  6. Feb 4, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0193h (NT) 02/04/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 11 P. 5
  7. Feb 13, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0193h: AA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 8
  8. Feb 13, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0193h: MA VV 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 8
  9. Feb 13, 2025HouseReferred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 9
  10. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  11. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  12. Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 03/19/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 19 P. 10
  13. Apr 10, 2025HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 04/10/2025 HJ 12 P. 3
  14. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  15. Apr 22, 2025SenHearing: 04/22/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:00 pm; SC 19
  16. May 1, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/01/2025, Vote 3-0, CC; SC 19
  17. 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.