Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

HB 779 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Sale of rabbit meat allowed

AI-generated

allowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.

Allows the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.AI-generated

Status

Became law without signature · May 30, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill allows for the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.

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

“An unlicensed rabbit producer may, in a calendar year, sell at his or her own farm, farmstand, or farmer's market up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits that the producer has raised provided all of the following conditions are met:”
RSA 143-A:16
“The department may inspect these exempt products when the department has reason to suspect an imminent health hazard as defined in RSA 143-A:3, IV-b. 54:3 Effective Date.”
RSA 143-A:16

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Kevin VervilleRPrime
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Judy AronRChair· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. James CreightonRChair· Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Howard PearlRVice Chair· Energy and Natural Resources

Also: Rep. Barbara ComtoisR

Public testimony

54 signed in online · 16 wrote testimony

94% support6% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As it stands, there are no instate ways to have a rabbit processed for sale at farmer’s markets or direct to consumer. Current state laws are forcing rabbit farmers to interstate commerce. There are no USDA Voluntary Rabbit Inspection sites in New England.…”
— Kayla Corona, Deerfieldsupports
“I, Dorothea Putnam, support this bill as I feel it will help our small, local farmers.”
— Dorothea Putnam, DEERFIELDsupports
“I, George Putnam support this bill, as I believe it will be of benefit to small farms.”
— George A Putnam, DEERFIELDsupports
“These changes will create a free for all in our food chain. No to uninspected meat/meat processing facilities. Will this now mean we can process and sell horsemeat? Horsemeat has disappeared in this country because the USDA refuses to require funds for inspection.…”
— Kathryn Green, Lymeopposes

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 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0647h14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0647hadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0647hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass2–1
    Overall
    67% yea
  • Apr 17, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 1, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1906eadopted
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture1:01:13–1:05:324m 19slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture2:10:41–2:14:424m 1slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0647h; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0647h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-0647h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources1:50:56–1:52:241m 28slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Apr 17, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1906e — adopted, voice vote
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1906e Adopted — voice vote
  • May 8, 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 Environment and Agriculture HJ 3 P. 27
  2. Feb 19, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/19/2025 10:15 am LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 11:20 am LOB 301-303
  5. Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0647h 03/04/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC)
  6. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0647h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0647h: MA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 12
  8. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 9
  9. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 103, SH, 10:20 am; SC 15
  10. Apr 17, 2025SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 2-1; CC; SC 17
  11. Apr 17, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
  12. May 1, 2025SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1906e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 05/01/2025); SJ 12
  13. May 1, 2025HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2025-1906e: AA VV (in recess of) 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 33
  14. May 8, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/08/2025); SJ 13
  15. May 8, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 05/08/2025 HJ 14 P. 59
  16. May 30, 2025HouseEnacted in accordance with Article 44 Part II of the N.H. Constitution without the signature of the governor 5/30/2025 eff. 07/29/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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