Revision: Nov. 17, 2025, 8:58 a.m.
Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7
Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4
Rep. Potenza, Straf. 19
November 10, 2025
2025-3090h
08/09
Amendment to HB 396
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to the processing of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 Exemptions; Food Service Licensure. Amend RSA 143-A:5, IX to read as follows:
IX. A farm owned or operated by any person, firm, or corporation that raises bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats for human consumption, and the direct sale within this state of the carcasses, parts, and meat[, and meat food products] of such animals, and meat food products of uninspected bison, elk, or red deer, when slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:2-a, IV, to the consumer from such farm, at the producer's farm stand, and by the producer at farmers' markets, or when sold to a licensed restaurant in accordance with RSA 143-A:20.
2 Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer; Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:18 to read as follows:
143-A:18 Definition of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, or Goats.
For purposes of this subdivision, "uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats" means carcasses, parts, meat[, and meat food products] of bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats, and meat food products of bison, elk, or red deer slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:16, XII and sold or to be sold as provided in RSA 427:2-a, IV.
3 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer; Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:19 to read as follows:
143-A:19 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats.
All packaging containing uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats shall be clearly labeled to include a description of the product, the name, address, and telephone number of the farm where the product originates, and the date of slaughter.
4 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer by Licensed Restaurants; Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:20 to read as follows:
143-A:20 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, or Goats by Licensed Restaurants.
I. A licensed restaurant, as defined in RSA 143-A:14, II, may purchase from bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cow, swine, sheep, or goat producers uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goat that is labeled in accordance with RSA 143-A:19.
II. For at least 90 days from the date of each purchase, the licensed restaurant shall keep on file the receipt of purchase to include the product purchased, the date of purchase, the name of the producer, the name and address of the farm, and phone number.
III. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected bison, elk, or red deer with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state and federal inspection."
III-a. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected beef, cow, swine, sheep, or goat with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state inspection.
5 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer by Retailers; Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:20-a to read as follows:
143-A:20-a Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, or Goat by Retailers.
I. A retailer may purchase from bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cow, swine, sheep, or goat producers uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cow, swine, sheep, or goat that is labeled in accordance with RSA 143-A:19 for resale.
II. For at least 90 days from the date of each purchase, the retailer shall keep on file the receipt of purchase to include the product purchased, the date of purchase, the name of the producer, the name and address of the farm, and phone number.
III. The retailer shall clearly label any product containing uninspected bison, elk, or red deer with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state and federal inspection."
IV. The retailer shall clearly label any product containing uninspected beef, cow, swine, sheep, or goat with the following statement: "This product was slaughtered at the farm and is exempt from state inspection."
6 Exemptions; Beef Cows, Swine, Sheep, and Goats. Amend RSA 427:2-a, IV to read as follows:
IV. The slaughter of bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats on a farm for purposes of sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, shall be exempt from the provisions of this subdivision requiring inspection of the slaughter of animals and preparation of the carcasses, parts thereof, meat of such animals, and meat food products of bison, elk, or red deer for sale within this state to the public. The slaughter of a bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats under this paragraph shall be permitted only:
(a) When the owner of the bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goat designates a slaughter area on the farm premises which is maintained in sanitary condition.
(b) When the bison, elk, [or] red deer, beef cows, swine, sheep, or goat is slaughtered in a humane method, as defined in RSA 427:33, III, by the owner or the owner's full time or seasonal employee.
(c) [From September 1 to April 30.
(d)] When no more than 12 hours passes from the time of slaughter to the placement of the carcass in a refrigerated facility at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
[(e)] (d) When a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B conducts an ante-mortem examination of each herd on an annual basis and the documents related to his or her examination are kept on file with all relevant information including:
(1) Species being inspected;
(2) Herd condition; and
(3) Location and time of inspection.
[(f)] (e) When such animal is transported to and processed at a facility that is eligible to conduct custom exempt activities as regulated by the USDA pursuant to 21 U.S.C. section 623(a) and associated departmental regulations.
[(g)] (f) When the owner of the bison, elk, or red deer retains the original copy of the report made in s[ubparagraph(e)] subparagraph (d). A copy of such report shall accompany the bison, elk, or red deer carcass to the processing facility. The processing facility shall retain a copy of the report for one year.
[(h)] (g) When bison, elk, or red deer meat is ground for sale, ground meat from every second animal processed shall be tested by the processing facility for Escherichia coli and salmonella at the owner's expense. All aspects of the testing, including sampling, shall be done in a manner that complies with standards and procedures of the USDA, and may include the services of an outside laboratory. The owner of the meat shall not sell it until he or she is in receipt of the test result that indicates the product is safe to eat. The test result shall be kept by the owner for at least one year.
[(i)] (h) Prior to sale, as provided in RSA 143-A:5, IX, it is labeled as required in RSA 143-A:19.
[(j)] (i) When the elk or red deer are sourced, kept, and propagated consistent with the rules pursuant to RSA 207:14, RSA 212:25, and RSA 436:24.
[(k)] (j) When, in the event any atypical death of a red deer or elk on the farm, that animal's carcass is tested for chronic wasting disease under rules established by the department of fish and game and the resulting test is negative.
V. Any farm that slaughters and butchers its own beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats under this chapter with intent to sell the meat in intrastate commerce shall register with the department of agriculture, markets, and food. A representative of the farm shall sign a statement in such registration acknowledging that by not processing its own beef cows, swine, sheep, or goats at a United States Department of Agriculture facility the farm is violating federal law and could be subject to federal prosecution.
VI. No more than the following number of animals shall be processed per month under this paragraph:
(a) Three beef cows.
(b) Five swine.
(c) Ten sheep or goats, or a combination thereof.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
2025-3090h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill allows for a limited number of beef cows, swine, sheep, and goats to be processed per month by a farm or a producer at a facility that is not certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.