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HB 1709 · 2026 · House · Housing Committee

Barring undocumented felons from renting property

AI-generated

(Second New Title) prohibiting certain unlawfully present felons from occupying or renting real property, relative to pet vendor foster home and defining pet vendor foster facility, and providing procedures for the potential confiscation of livestock involved in cruelty to animal cases.

Prohibits unlawfully present felons from occupying or renting real property and authorizes sheriffs to arrest them during eviction proceedings, while also defining pet vendor foster facilities and requiring annual pet vendor reporting to the department of agriculture.AI-generated

Status

Died on the table in the Senate · June 4, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Prohibits certain unlawfully present aliens with prior felony convictions from occupying or renting real property and authorizes sheriffs to arrest such individuals during service of a writ of possession. II. Includes a determination of the best interest of the animal in the definition of pet vendor foster home. III. Defines a pet vendor foster facility. IV. Requires all pet vendors to annually report on associated pet vendor foster homes to the department of agriculture, markets, and food to ensure compliance with licensure, animal inventory, and applicable pet limit requirements. V. Provides procedures for the potential confiscation of livestock involved in cruelty to animal cases.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“A sheriff shall, to the extent possible and their ability to safely do so, arrest any individual discovered during service of the writ of possession under RSA 540:14 to be in violation of paragraph I or otherwise subject to arrest under 8 United States Code, section 1252c.”
RSA 540:31
“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
“If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the section which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are declared to be severable.”
RSA 540:31
“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

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe AlexanderRPrimeChair· Housing
  • Rep. Ross BerryRChair· Election Law
  • Rep. Katelyn KuttabRClerk· Judiciary
  • Rep. Katy PeternelRVice Chair· Education Policy and Administration
  • Rep. Kimberly RiceRVice Chair· Children and Family Law
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Kristine PerezR

Public testimony

368 signed in online · 101 wrote testimony

4% support96% oppose0% neutral

ForHousing should prioritize legal residents

AgainstForces landlords into illegal discrimination

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“All people shall be transparent on whether they are in this country unlawfully or not.”
— James Gardner, Keenesupports
“I support this bill because illegal immigrants should but be taking housing away from NH residents.”
— Daniel Gialanella, Chestersupports
“My name is Renee Philip-Ann Allen. I'm a resident in the ward four district of Dover, New Hampshire. I am opposing HB1709 as it is a discriminatory bill that will in no doubt have negative consequences on public health.…”
— Renee Allen, Doveropposes
“We need nonpartisan, fair, and equitable maps for voting to maintain our democracy.”
— Eileen Kane, Weareopposes
“This bill asks people to disclose if they are not US citizens even if they have documentation to be here. It seems this could lead to discrimination based on immigration status.…”
— Gayle Hoisington, Merrimackopposes

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 3, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0943h9–8
    Overall
    53% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-0943hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callLay HB1709 on Table (Rep. Read)Failed153–181How they voted
    Overall
    46% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    2–1751% yea
    Democrats
    151–696% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0943hAdopted181–154How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    179–0100% yea
    Democrats
    2–1541% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • Apr 16, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass3–2
    Overall
    60% yea
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1939sadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Floor Amendment # 2026-1978sadopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1939s and #2026-1978sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 14, 2026HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1978s and 2026-1939s and Requests CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.)adopted
  • May 14, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted
  • Jun 4, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Moved Laid on Tableadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 27, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing5:54:34–6:10:2015m 46slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 3, 2026Public hearingHouse Housing2:46:03–2:47:161m 13slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0943h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor10:36:18–10:41:185mlocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0943h — adopted, roll call 181-154; Amendment # 2026-0943h — adopted, voice vote; Lay HB1709 on Table (Rep. Read) — failed, roll call 153-181
  • Apr 2, 2026Public hearingSenate Judiciary2:48:29–2:54:215m 52slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1978s and 2026-1939s and Requests CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Alexander Jr., Beaulier, Dumont, Reinfurt
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floor10:00:21–10:05:174m 56slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1939s and #2026-1978s — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1939s — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floor3:18:28–3:19:351m 7slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2083c; Sen. Pearl Moved Laid on Table — adopted, voice vote; Pending Motion Committee of Conference Report # 2026-2083c

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Housing HJ 1 P. 32
  2. Jan 27, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/27/2026 02:00 pm GP 231
  3. Mar 3, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/03/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  4. Mar 3, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0943h 03/03/2026 (Vote 9-8; RC) HC 10 P. 55
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0943h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 221
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseLay HB1709 on Table (Rep. Read): MF RC 153-181 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 222
  8. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0943h: MA RC 181-154 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 224
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7
  10. Apr 2, 2026SenHearing: 04/02/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:30 pm; SC 12
  11. Apr 16, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 04/16/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 14
  12. May 14, 2026SenSpecial Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection, MA; 04/16/2026 SJ 9
  13. May 14, 2026SenCommittee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026, Vote 3-2; SC 18
  14. May 14, 2026SenSen. Birdsell Floor Amendment # 2026-1939s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  15. May 14, 2026SenSen. Pearl Floor Amendment # 2026-1978s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  16. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendments #2026-1939s and #2026-1978s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  17. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1978s and 2026-1939s and Requests CofC (Rep. Alexander Jr.): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 150
  18. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Alexander Jr., Beaulier, Dumont, Reinfurt 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 150
  19. May 14, 2026SenSen. Gannon Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  20. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Gannon, Birdsell, Altschiller; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  21. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 02:45 pm GP 234
  22. May 28, 2026SenConferee Change; Senator Pearl Replaces Senator Altschiller; SJ 14
  23. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2083c; 06/04/2026
  24. Jun 4, 2026SenSen. Pearl Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  25. Jun 4, 2026SenPending Motion Committee of Conference Report # 2026-2083c; 06/04/2026; SJ 14

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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