Revision: Dec. 1, 2025, 8:58 a.m.
HB 1153-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2379
08/05
HOUSE BILL 1153-FN-LOCAL
SPONSORS: Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. N. Germana, Ches. 15
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill increases dog license fees and establishes a committee to study the New Hampshire statutes relative to cats and 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2379
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 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] $4.75 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.
2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the New Hampshire laws relative to dogs and cats in RSA 466.
3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
4 Duties. The committee shall review and assess the following:
I. Are statutes consistent with current regulatory needs and practices?
II. Is the organization of statutory material clear, concise, and readily available?
5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
6 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.
7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
26-2379
10/21/25
HB 1153-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT:
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
County Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase less than $10,000 per municipality | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill increases dog licensing fees from $4.50 to $4.75.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association anticipates the fee increase proposed in this bill to result in a revenue impact of less than $10,000 per municipality, though the exact amount remains uncertain.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
New Hampshire Municipal Association