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HB 670 · 2025 · House · Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

Higher fines for nuisance dog attacks

AI-generated

(New Title) adjusting the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs.

Adjusts the minimum monetary fine imposed on the owner of a dog that has been declared a nuisance following an attack.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 22, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill adjusts the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs.

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

“Any person who violates any provision of RSA 466:31 shall be guilty of a violation; provided that if such person chooses to pay the civil forfeiture specified in paragraph II, the person shall be deemed to have waived the right to have the case heard in district or municipal court and shall not be prosecuted or found guilty of a violation of RSA 466:31.”
RSA 466:31-a
“Any person who does not pay the civil forfeiture specified in paragraph II shall have the case disposed of in district or municipal court.”
RSA 466:31-a
“Any person who violates any of the provisions of RSA 466:31 shall be liable for a civil forfeiture, which shall be paid to the clerk of the town or city wherein such dog is owned or kept within 96 hours of the date and time notice is given by any law enforcement officer or other person authorized by the town to the owner or keeper of a dog in violation of RSA 466:31.”
RSA 466:31-a
“If the forfeiture is paid, said payment shall be in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty.”
RSA 466:31-a

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Len TurcotteRPrime
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Sen. David RochefortRChair· Health and Human Services

Also: Rep. Lorie BallR

Public testimony

11 signed in online · 3 wrote testimony

91% support9% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Please add in language that the owner of any such dog shall spend the equivalent time in jail as the victim spends either either receiving treatment or in a medical facility. Please contact me by email with any clarification questions.”
— Gordon Springate, wiltonsupports
“I 100% support this bill. We have several neighbors who have dogs that run uncontained through the neighborhood, and despite me telling them that my dog, (who is walked on a leash), does not want their dog racing up to him, and will try to pull away, or defend himself, it falls on deaf ears.…”
— Wendi Tremblay, Barringtonsupports
“I, Jerice Ball, support HB670 to raise the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs. On March 22, 2023, I was attacked by a German shepherd while running on my usual route. This attack came out of nowhere, and I was completely caught off guard.…”
— Jerice Ball, Salemsupports

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

  • Feb 7, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:34:10–1:45:0010m 50slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Criminal Justice and Public Safety1:04:32–1:05:401m 8slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0325h (NT); Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0325h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0325h (NT) — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingSenate Judiciary18:31–26:418m 10slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1712s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1712s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-1712s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 12, 2025Floor debateHouse floor35:47–37:191m 32slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1712s (Rep. Roy) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 26, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

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 Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 22
  2. Feb 7, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/07/2025 11:00 am LOB 202-204
  3. Mar 14, 2025House==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 03/14/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  4. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 10:00 am LOB 202-204
  5. Mar 19, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0325h (NT) 03/19/2025 (Vote 16-0; CC) HC 17 P. 10
  6. Mar 26, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0325h (NT): AA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 15
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0325h: MA VV 03/26/2025 HJ 10 P. 15
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 10
  9. Apr 22, 2025SenHearing: 04/22/2025, Room 100, SH, 01:15 pm; SC 19
  10. May 1, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1712s, 05/01/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 19
  11. May 1, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-1712s, AA, VV; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  12. May 1, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-1712s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/01/2025; SJ 11
  13. Jun 12, 2025HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-1712s (Rep. Roy): MA VV 06/12/2025 HJ 17 P. 4
  14. Jun 26, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/26/2025 HJ 18 P. 60
  15. Jun 26, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/26/2025); SJ 18
  16. Jul 15, 2025HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2025; Chapter 203; eff. 01/01/2026 HJ 18

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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