HB 670-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
26Mar2025... 0325h
2025 SESSION
25-0550
08/05
HOUSE BILL 670-FN
AN ACT adjusting the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Turcotte, Straf. 4; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Ball, Rock. 25; Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill adjusts the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 0325h 25-0550
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT adjusting the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Penalties for Nuisance Dogs. Amend RSA 466:31-a to read as follows:
466:31-a Penalties.
I. Any person who violates any provision of RSA 466:31 shall be guilty of a violation; provided that if such person chooses to pay the civil forfeiture specified in paragraph II, the person shall be deemed to have waived the right to have the case heard in district or municipal court and shall not be prosecuted or found guilty of a violation of RSA 466:31. Any person who does not pay the civil forfeiture specified in paragraph II shall have the case disposed of in district or municipal court.
II. Any person who violates any of the provisions of RSA 466:31 shall be liable for a civil forfeiture, which shall be paid to the clerk of the town or city wherein such dog is owned or kept within 96 hours of the date and time notice is given by any law enforcement officer or other person authorized by the town to the owner or keeper of a dog in violation of RSA 466:31. If the forfeiture is paid, said payment shall be in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty. The forfeiture shall be in the amount as specified for the following violations:
(a) [$25] A warning for the first nuisance offense under RSA 466:31, II(a), (b), (c) or (d); [$100] $50 for the second offense committed within 12 months of the first nuisance offense under RSA 466:31, II(a), (b), (c), or (d); $100 for the third or subsequent nuisance offense committed within 12 months of the first nuisance offense under RSA 466:31, II(a), (b), (c) or (d).
(b) [$50] $200 for the first menace offense under RSA 466:31, II(e) or (f); [$200] $400 for the second or subsequent menace offense committed within 12 months of the first menace offense under RSA 466:31, II(e) or (f).
(c) [$100] $400 for the first vicious offense under RSA 466:31, II(g). Additionally, the owner of the dog shall be liable for all medical bills sustained by the person who was attacked.
(d) [$400] $1,000 for the second or subsequent vicious offense committed within 12 months of the first vicious offense under RSA 466:31, II(g). Additionally, the owner of the dog shall be liable for all medical bills sustained by the person who was attacked.
III. Any person who pays a civil forfeiture specified in paragraph II 2 times in any 12-month period according to the records of the town or city clerk, may not pay a civil forfeiture for subsequent violations of RSA 466:31 in that 12-month period, but shall have those cases disposed of in district or municipal court. In the case of a vicious dog, as described by RSA 466:31, II(g), where its behavior presents a threat to public safety, immediate district court or municipal court proceedings [may] shall be initiated in lieu of the civil forfeiture.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
LBA
25-0550
3/31/25
HB 670-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2025-0325h)
AN ACT adjusting the minimum fine for attacks by nuisance dogs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
None