Citizen in a RepublicNH Bill Briefing
← All bills

SB 302 · 2025 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Waste facility checks and animal cruelty study

AI-generated

(New Title) requiring background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners, establishing a solid waste site evaluation committee and temporarily suspends the issuance of solid waste permits by the department of environmental services, 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.

Requires background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners, establishes a solid waste facility site evaluation committee, temporarily suspends new solid waste permit issuance, restricts confiscation of animals from suspected abusers absent charges, and creates a committee to study animal cruelty statutes.AI-generated

Status

Died — the House and Senate did not agree · June 11, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires background checks for solid waste and hazardous waste facility owners including partners and managers. II. Establishes the solid waste facility site evaluation committee, requires major solid waste disposal facilities to be certified by the solid waste facility site evaluation committee, and temporarily suspends the issuance of solid waste permits by the department of environmental services. III. 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. IV. 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. V. Establishes a committee to study certain animal cruelty statutes.

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

Sen. Howard PearlRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration

Public testimony

39 signed in online · 12 wrote testimony

87% support13% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Thank you for accepting these comments from the Society for the Protection of NH Forests regarding Amendment 2025-2012h to to SB 302-FN. Specifically, the Forest Society supports 149-M:86 II on page 16 of the amendment.…”
— Matt Leahy, Concord · Society for the Protection of NH Forestssupports
“After spending several years working for Casella Waste Management I’ve seen and learned first hand the importance of holding company’s accountable that want to take advantage of New Hampshire’s Forests and Wildlife as well as New England overall.…”
— Alyssa Murphy, Lisbonsupports
“re amendment #2025-2012H -- This amendment is a move in the right direction to have more oversight of solid waste facilities.”
— Liz Tentarelli, Manchestersupports

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 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • May 20, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2219h (NT)12–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-2219hadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2219hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of Cadopted
  • Jun 5, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt)adopted

Hearings and debates

  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration40:44–43:252m 41slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 15, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture3:47–7:023m 15slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing; Full Committee Work Session
  • Apr 22, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture15:28–15:5729slocated in the stream transcript==RECESSED== Executive Session
  • May 13, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture8:23–12:354m 12slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-2012h
  • May 20, 2025Public hearingHouse Environment and Agriculture14:10–19:245m 14slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2219h (NT); Executive Session
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Pearl, Avard, Watters; (In Recess
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2219h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2219h (NT) — adopted, voice vote; House Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt) — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Feb 13, 2025SenIntroduced 02/13/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 6
  2. Mar 5, 2025SenHearing: 03/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:15 am; SC 11
  3. Mar 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/13/2025; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 12
  4. Mar 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/13/2025; SJ 7
  5. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 11 P. 113
  6. Apr 15, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/15/2025 09:30 am LOB 301-303
  7. Apr 15, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 04/15/2025 11:15 am LOB 301-303
  8. Apr 22, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/22/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303
  9. May 8, 2025House==RECESSED== Executive Session: 05/08/2025 01:15 pm LOB 302
  10. May 13, 2025HousePublic Hearing on non-germane Amendment # 2025-2012h: 05/13/2025 10:00 am LOB 301-303
  11. May 20, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 05/20/2025 10:30 am LOB 301-303
  12. May 20, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2219h (NT) 05/20/2025 (Vote 12-0; CC) HC 27 P. 11
  13. Jun 5, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-2219h (NT): AA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 15
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2219h: MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 25
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Pearl Moved Nonconcur with the House Amendment; Requests C of C, MA, VV; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Pearl, Avard, Watters; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  17. Jun 5, 2025HouseHouse Accedes to Senate Request for CofC (Rep. Kofalt): MA VV 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  18. Jun 5, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. J. Aron, Potenza, Comtois, Bixby 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 171
  19. Jun 17, 2025SenCommittee of Conference Meeting: 06/17/2025, 09:00 am, Room 103, SH
  20. Jun 12, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator Birdsell Replaces Senator Avard; SJ 17
  21. Jun 20, 2025HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
  22. Jun 19, 2025SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 16

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.