Bill Text - HB250 (2025)

(New Title) enabling local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs and increasing the fee to license certain dogs.


Revision: May 1, 2025, 5:33 p.m.

HB 250 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

26Mar2025... 0896h

05/01/2025   1697s

 

2025 SESSION

25-0255

08/09

 

HOUSE BILL 250

 

AN ACT enabling local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs and increasing the fee to license certain dogs.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15; Rep. Jacobs, Ches. 15; Rep. O'Rorke, Ches. 7; Rep. Jones, Ches. 3

 

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill enables local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs.

 

This bill also increases the licensing fee for certain dogs.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26Mar2025... 0896h

05/01/2025   1697s 25-0255

08/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT enabling local governing bodies to regulate the muzzling of dogs and increasing the fee to license certain dogs.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  City or Town Bylaws; Restraint of Dogs.  Amend RSA 466:39 to read as follows:

466:39  City or Town Bylaws.  The local governing body may make such additional bylaws and regulations concerning the licensing, muzzling of vicious dogs as defined in RSA 466:31, II(g), and restraining of dogs as it deems reasonable, and may affix penalties not exceeding $50 for a breach thereof.  Such bylaws and regulations shall relate only to dogs owned or kept in such city or town, and the annual fee required for a license shall in no case be more than $1 in addition to the sum hereby required.

2  Fees; Licensing of Dogs.  Amend RSA 466:4, I(a) to read as follows:

I.(a)  The fee for every license for a year or portion of a year shall be:

(1)  [$4.50] $4.75 for dogs at least 4 months old but less than 7 months old which are not spayed or neutered and $4.50 for a neutered male or spayed female dog 7 months old or older; provided, however, that the owner or keeper of such spayed female dog or neutered male dog shall comply with the provisions of RSA 466:1-a to the satisfaction of the clerk of the town or city in which such dog is owned or kept; or

(2)  [$7] $7.25 for any unneutered male or unspayed female dog 7 months old or older.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.