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HB 616 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Limiting animal confiscation in cruelty cases

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to the confiscation of animals from persons suspected of or charged with abuse of animals and establishing a committee to study the animal cruelty statutes.

Restricts confiscation of animals to cases where a person is charged with cruelty or the animal needs protective custody, and requires a state veterinarian to help set probable cause for taking livestock in cruelty cases.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill prohibits the confiscation of animals from persons suspected of abuse of animals unless such person is charged with cruelty to animals or the animals require temporary protective custody. This bill also requires the state veterinarian or their designee to accompany an investigating officer when livestock are the subject of a cruelty case in order to set probable cause criteria for the taking of the animal.

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 state veterinarian, under the direction of the commissioner, shall have all of the powers of the commissioner and shall have general charge of the enforcement of this chapter.”
RSA 436:8
“Complaints under RSA 644:8, 644:8-a, 644:8-aa and any other law pertaining to the abuse of domestic animals, as defined under RSA 436:1, shall initially be filed with the local law enforcement agency, animal control officer, state police, or sheriff which has jurisdiction over where the animal is located or kept.”
RSA 436:8
“At the request of the local law enforcement agency, animal control officer, state police, or sheriff, the state veterinarian shall assist in a secondary capacity in enforcing the provisions of and investigating said complaints.”
RSA 436:8
“The commissioner may direct the state veterinarian to act for him or her in an official capacity whenever he or she may be absent from his or her duties.]”
RSA 436:8

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Judy AronRPrimeChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Also: Rep. Barbara ComtoisR, Rep. Megan MurrayD, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

191 signed in online · 92 wrote testimony

8% support92% oppose0% neutral

ForProvides due-process protections for animal owners

AgainstDelaying removal until charges are filed risks animal suffering or death

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“NH Farm Bureau has been working on wording that will protect owners of animals and the animals themselves. Too many people think they know what is best for animals without truly understanding the needs of them, especially farm animals.…”
— Joyce Brady, Columbia · NH Farm Bureausupports
“I'm actually writing in support of HB152 to ban the use of glue traps for rodents. There are many other options for rodent control: snap traps, electric traps, live capture traps, eliminating food sources, exclusion techniques, repellants, and rodent contraceptives.…”
— Cynthia Coughlin, Merrimacksupports
“3/4/2025 Madame Chair and Members of the Environment and Agriculture Committee, My name is Nancy Holmes and I am writing today from New Boston, NH in support of HB616. HB616 contains much needed clarification of our laws on animal cruelty, the seizure of farm animals and their subsequent care.…”
— Nancy Holmes, New Bostonsupports
“The board and volunteers of Spicy Cats Rescue strongly oppose this bill. In cases of abuse or neglect, even a few hours can mean life or death for an animal. In 2021, a cat named Bennie came into our care as a stray in horrific condition.…”
— Caroline Wilkinson, Brentwood · Spicy Cats Rescueopposes
“Getting over the hurdle of collecting enough evidence to prove the case of animal abuse to 100% satisfaction to a judge only means more suffering for the animal(s.) More realistically there is a good chance they will die in the meantime while waiting for rescue.”
— Suzanne Butler, Chichesteropposes
“Humane agents are the first line of defense against animal cruelty and neglect. If humane agents are removed from investigations, animals that are suffering in dangerous and life-threatening situations will be impacted. I urge members to vote 'NO' on HB616.”
— E Ann Poole, Hillsboroughopposes

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
  • Mar 18, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0999h (NT)15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0999hadopted
  • Mar 26, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0999hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 15, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 15, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture5:30:10–5:53:0622m 56slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture3:28:29–3:29:471m 18slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Mar 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and AgricultureWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:03:24–1:05:031m 39slocated in the stream transcriptFull Committee Work Session
  • Mar 18, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture17:17–18:301m 13slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0999h (NT); Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0999h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0999h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary56:32–1:12:4016m 8slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 15, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:13:26–1:14:351m 9slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; HB 616 was Removed from the Consent Calendar

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 3 P. 19
  2. Mar 4, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 03/04/2025 01:30 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 5, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/05/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 7, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/07/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  5. Mar 11, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/11/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  6. Mar 18, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/18/2025 10:45 am LOB 301-303
  7. Mar 18, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/18/2025 12:00 pm LOB 301-303
  8. Mar 18, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0999h (NT) 03/18/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 17 P. 16
  9. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0999h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 24
  10. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0999h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 24
  11. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  12. Apr 22, 2025SenHearing: 04/22/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 19
  13. May 15, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/15/2025; SC 21
  14. May 15, 2025SenHB 616 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  15. May 15, 2025SenSen. Gannon Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  16. May 15, 2025SenPending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 05/15/2025; SJ 13
  17. Oct 31, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, 10/31/2025; SJ 1

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

  • Detailed Discussion of Commercial Breeders and Puppy MillsExplainer

    Animal Legal & Historical Center, Michigan State University College of Law — A legal-reference overview of how federal and state law define and regulate commercial dog breeders and so-called puppy mills.AI-generated

  • What Are Cost of Care Laws and How Do They Work?Animal welfare

    ASPCA — Describes the seizure-and-custody process for abused animals and the cost-of-care rules that determine who pays while a cruelty case proceeds.AI-generated

  • Why Pet Shop Laws Affect YouBreeder

    American Kennel Club — Lays out breeder and hobbyist objections to broad commercial-breeder definitions and pet-vendor licensing requirements.AI-generated

  • Animal welfare organization opposes NH House-passed billNH context

    New Hampshire Public Radio — Reports a New Hampshire dispute over legislation on animal seizure and custody, quoting the state SPCA and the bill's sponsor.AI-generated

  • Animal RightsNH context — nonpartisan

    Citizens Count — A nonpartisan New Hampshire issue brief summarizing state debates over animal cruelty, seizure costs, and breeder regulation.AI-generated

  • Humane Organizations Oppose Bill To Change Laws Related To Livestock CrueltyNH context

    InDepthNH.org — Covers New Hampshire testimony on proposed changes to livestock cruelty and confiscation law, including concerns from humane organizations.AI-generated

Documents (PDF)

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