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HB 250 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Local regulation of dog muzzling

AI-generated

(Second New Title) enabling local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs.

Enables local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs while excluding certain working dogs from such regulations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · August 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill enables local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs and excludes certain working dogs from such regulations.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The local governing body may make such additional bylaws and regulations concerning the licensing, muzzling of vicious dogs as defined in RSA 466:31, II(g), and restraining of dogs as it deems reasonable, and may affix penalties not exceeding $50 for a breach thereof.”
RSA 466:39
“Such bylaws and regulations shall relate only to dogs owned or kept in such city or town, and the annual fee required for a license shall in no case be more than $1 in addition to the sum hereby required.”
RSA 466:39

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jodi NewellDPrime
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture

Also: Rep. Samantha JacobsD, Rep. Terri O'RorkeD, Rep. Philip JonesD

Public testimony

17 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

53% support47% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I'm a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant. I'm a big fan of muzzles when they are properly fit and the dog has been appropriately conditioned to wear one without increasing their level of distress.…”
— Alli Holte, Keenesupports
“I am opposed to municipalities being able pass laws that Arbitrarily mandate muzzling dogs who have demonstrated no danger to the public, especially singling out specific breeds. There are already dangerous dog laws.…”
— Rachel Anderson, Nottinghamopposes
“Let's address leash laws and making resources available to pet owners before wasting time on such a bill as this.”
— Alice Bobroff, Manchesteropposes

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

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture27:10–30:002m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:30:15–1:34:113m 56slocated in the stream transcriptSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture47:53–52:404m 47slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session; ==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:48:46–1:53:184m 32slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0896h; Full Committee Work Session; ==CONTINUED== Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0896h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0896h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 10, 2025Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources6:12–19:4613m 34slocated in the stream transcript
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1697s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1697s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1697s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1697s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. J. Aron, Bixby, Barbour, Comtois
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Avard, McConkey, Watters; (In Recess
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2790c; Conference Committee Report # 2025-2790c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2923e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnamed in a list of bills, not taken up — opens the full streamConference Committee Report 2025-2790c: Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2923e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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. Mar 5, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 7, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/07/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 11, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/11/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  5. Mar 11, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 03/11/2025 11:20 am LOB 301-303
  6. Mar 18, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303
  7. Mar 18, 2025House==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 03/18/2025 12:00 pm LOB 301-303
  8. Mar 18, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0896h 03/18/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 17 P. 15
  9. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0896h: AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 22
  10. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0896h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 22
  11. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 10
  12. Apr 8, 2025SenHearing: 04/08/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 16
  13. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1697s, 05/01/2025; Vote 2-0; CC; SC 19
  14. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1697s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  15. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1697s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  16. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1697s and Requests CofC (Rep. Osborne): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 52
  17. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. J. Aron, Bixby, Barbour, Comtois 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 52
  18. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  19. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Avard, McConkey, Watters; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  20. Jun 12, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator Pearl Replaces Senator Avard; SJ 17
  21. Jun 17, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/17/2025 08:30 am LOB 302-304
  22. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2025-2790c; 06/26/2025
  23. Jun 26, 2025SenConference Committee Report # 2025-2790c, Adopted, VV; 06/26/2025; SJ 17
  24. Jun 26, 2025HouseConference Committee Report 2025-2790c: Adopted, VV 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 18
  25. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2923e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  26. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-2923e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 61
  27. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  28. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 64
  29. Aug 1, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 08/01/2025; Chapter 272; eff. 09/30/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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