Revision: Jan. 6, 2025, 9:39 p.m.
HB 201-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0031
08/09
HOUSE BILL 201-FN
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. St. Clair, Belk. 5; Rep. Trottier, Belk. 8; Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Rep. Seibert, Hills. 21; Rep. Soucy, Merr. 21; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates a criminal penalty for declawing a cat.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0031
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Removal of Claws from Cats. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section:
644:8-h Removal of Claws from Cats Prohibited.
I. No person shall remove the claws of a cat by performing an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy, or a tendonectomy, by any means, on a cat except when necessary in order to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat's health. No person shall remove the claws of a cat for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.
II. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the second violation, and $2,500 for any subsequent violation.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0031
10/14/24
HB 201-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
FISCAL IMPACT:
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund | None | |||||
Expenditures* | Indeterminable | |||||
Funding Source | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | Indeterminable | |||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association