CHAPTER 84
HB 1274-FN-LOCAL - FINAL VERSION
2026 SESSION
26-2841
08/07
HOUSE BILL 1274-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to dog licenses.
SPONSORS: Rep. Dargie, Hills. 43; Rep. Petrigno, Hills. 43
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill increases the annual dog licensing fee.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-2841
08/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to dog licenses.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
84:1 Dog License Fees. Amend RSA 466:4, I-II 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.
(b) In addition to the sum required in subparagraphs I(a)(1) and (2), each year the owner of each dog shall pay the clerk of the city or town where the dog is registered a companion animal population control fee of $1.75.
(c) The clerk shall remit all companion animal population control fees collected to the state treasurer along with the fees sent in accordance with RSA 466:9, provided that such companion animal population control fees shall be deposited into the companion animal neutering fund, established in RSA 437-A:4-a.
II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, the fee for every license for a year or a portion of a year shall be [$1.75] $2 for a dog of either sex if the owner is 65 years of age or older. Such owner shall not be required to pay the companion animal population control fee, under RSA 466:4, I(b), for licensing of one dog; provided, however, that, if such owner wishes to license more than one dog, the fee for any additional license shall be as provided in paragraph I.
84:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
Approved: May 22, 2026
Effective Date: July 01, 2026
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 24, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Senate | Floor Vote |
May 28, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/22/2026; Chapter 84; eff. 07/01/2026
May 12, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 05/07/2026 HJ 12
May 11, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 05/07/2026); SJ 12
April 3, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/09/2026; SJ 8
March 25, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/09/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 13
March 18, 2026: Hearing: 03/24/2026, Room 122-123, SH, 10:05 am; SC 11
Feb. 25, 2026: Introduced 02/19/2026 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 5
Feb. 25, 2026: Referral Waived by Committee Chair per House Rule 47(f) 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 89
Feb. 19, 2026: Referred to Ways and Means 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 39
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 15
Feb. 6, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/03/2026 (Vote 14-1; CC) HC 7 P. 11
Feb. 4, 2026: Executive Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
Jan. 27, 2026: Full Committee Work Session: 02/03/2026 09:15 am GP 153
Jan. 21, 2026: Full Committee Work Session: 01/27/2026 10:00 am GP 153
Jan. 8, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/20/2026 10:45 am GP 153
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 1 P. 13