Warning: Bill numbers and names are based on text-to-speech transcript which may have errors due to transcription issues or ad hoc/incomplete language use by committee.
Rep. Comtois introduced HB 1186, which originated from a Department of Agriculture request but was revised to exempt small farmers and backyard producers from certain egg handling requirements like refrigeration and grading for intrastate sales. The bill allows reuse of cartons with proper labeling indicating ungraded eggs and exempts them from washing to preserve the bloom, protecting small farmers from unintentional violations.
HB1186
Oppose00:10:00.000 - 9:05:51 AM
Director Wyman opposed the bill as written, citing implementation challenges due to conflicts with federal egg laws on labeling, grading, and refrigeration for salmonella prevention. He clarified misconceptions about washing and shelf life, noting federal requirements apply regardless. He recommended repealing the RSA to avoid state involvement, as the department lacks training for enforcement, and offered amendments for clarity but highlighted ongoing federal compliance issues.
HB1186
Support00:25:00.000 - 9:20:51 AM
Rep. Barber supported the bill, emphasizing New Hampshire's history of protecting small farms and homesteaders. She noted the bill addresses unintentional law-breaking by small farmers on egg cartoning and labeling, exempting intrastate sales from federal standards. She questioned the lack of state-specific salmonella data and urged passage to promote food security and local agriculture.
HB1186
Support00:28:00.000 - 9:23:51 AM
Rob Johnson from the New Hampshire Farm Bureau supported the bill, stating it reflects member interests and codifies existing practices for intrastate and local sales. He mentioned discussions with UNH Extension food specialists who saw no concerns with the House version.
HB1186
Vote00:30:00.000 - 9:25:51 AM
The committee moved into executive session and voted Ought to Pass (OTP) on HB 1186 by consent, recognizing its importance to small agricultural producers despite departmental concerns.
HB1833
Information Only00:32:00.000 - 9:27:51 AM
Sen. Pearl introduced HB 1833, which creates a special license for non-resident vessel operators participating in tuna tournaments, allowing them to land and sell tuna in New Hampshire waters.
HB1833
Oppose00:33:00.000 - 9:28:51 AM
Renee Zobel opposed HB 1833, explaining that tuna tournaments involve commercial fishing in federal waters, requiring state licenses upon entering New Hampshire waters. The bill would create a low-fee special license ($10-25 plus derelict gear fee), leading to $8,000 in lost revenue from the $500 non-resident commercial license and $15,000-$25,000 in implementation costs. She highlighted financial strains on Fish and Game and the need for higher fees to cover costs, noting tuna stocks are internationally managed with sustainability concerns.
HB1833
Vote00:35:19.363 - 9:31:10 AM
The committee moved into executive session and voted Inexpedient to Legislate (ITL) on HB 1833 by consent, citing financial impacts and revenue loss.
HB1780
Support00:40:00.000 - 9:35:51 AM
The prime sponsor introduced HB 1780, which simplifies seed labeling to comply with other states, allowing relabeling and prohibiting sales more than 36 months from production to ensure germination rates. The bill condensed from two pages to one paragraph based on committee consensus.
HB1780
Oppose00:42:00.000 - 9:37:51 AM
Director Wyman opposed the bill as written due to implementation issues, requiring a production date on labels for enforcement. He suggested amendments to add the production date requirement in specific RSA sections and define it, noting the original request came from seed company discussions but the House version needs clarification for inspectors.
HB1780
Information Only00:50:19.363 - 9:46:10 AM
Scott Pennington indicated no issue with defining production date in statute or rules, suggesting it as the month and year seeds are bagged. He noted potential issues with germination tests post-bagging and offered to work with the department on amendments, including for specific seed types. He explained seed companies already adapt labels for state variations and would include production dates.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support00:55:00.000 - 9:50:51 AM
Reps. Comtois and Bixby introduced HB 1766, creating a new subsection in RSA 644:8 for livestock cruelty, allowing immediate confiscation if life is in imminent danger and requiring state veterinarian involvement for probable cause. They emphasized due process, species-specific assessments via video if needed, status hearings, and temporary care provisions. They supported amendments extending timelines to 10 days, informing owners of vet exam rights, and clarifying state vet involvement only for probable cause without arrests. They addressed euthanasia for suffering animals if costs exceed fund limits unless owner or adoptee pays.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Oppose01:05:19.363 - 10:01:10 AM
Kurt Ehrenberg strongly opposed HB 1766, arguing it adds barriers prolonging suffering by restricting timely interventions, limiting nonprofit involvement, and forcing euthanasia over $5,000 costs. It revokes humane societies' seizure authority, burdens law enforcement without nonprofit support for care and transport, allows co-owners to reclaim animals into abusive environments, and ignores livestock abuse realities like high costs and backyard cases. He questioned state plans for shelters and funding without nonprofits.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Oppose01:35:19.363 - 10:31:10 AM
Michelle Murch opposed HB 1766, noting it removes licensed humane societies from livestock investigations, preventing assistance to undertrained law enforcement in complex cases. She highlighted unrealistic state vet availability for 24/7 probable cause determinations across hundreds of towns, leading to delays and deaths. Most cases involve backyard/hobby farmers, not commercial, and the bill burdens police while exempting livestock from protective custody. She questioned designee roles for non-vets and non-governmental restrictions.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Oppose01:50:19.363 - 10:46:10 AM
Patricia Morris, representing the Governor's Commission (majority opposed), testified against HB 1766 as written. The commission has advanced training for prosecutors and animal control but opposes the bill for weakening protections. As a horse farm owner, she emphasized the need for balanced interventions without barriers.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Information Only02:05:19.363 - 11:01:10 AM
Trish discusses concerns with the bill's provisions on euthanasia, adoption, and surrender of animals. She supports Senator Pearl's amendment allowing adoption or surrender in the animal's best interest. She approves of extending the return timeline from seven to ten days but argues it is still insufficient for thorough livestock investigations, suggesting no strict timeline to ensure evidence is complete. She expresses worry that the bill may lead to fewer early investigations and elevate cases to felony level prematurely. Additionally, she highlights potential bias in designating veterinarians, as it ties them to the prosecution, and notes the added burden on the under-resourced Department of Agriculture for handling complaints, investigations, and trials.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:12:00.000 - 11:07:51 AM
Henry Ahern, a livestock farmer raising deer, supports the bill. He emphasizes the need for designees or the state veterinarian to have knowledge of specific livestock physiology, as general vets for cats and dogs may not accurately assess abuse in species like deer, goats, or cows. He criticizes past instances where humane societies used animal confiscations as a profit center, raising funds through donations and charging high fees, which threatens farmers' livelihoods.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Oppose02:15:00.000 - 11:10:51 AM
Lisa Denison, president and CEO of the New Hampshire SPCA, opposes HB 1766. She notes the SPCA's extensive assistance to 82 towns last year and 62 in the first three months of this year, including housing, transport, and expertise for law enforcement. She refutes claims of profiting from seizures, stating they often lose money and waive fees. The bill excludes non-government expertise, ignores the role of humane societies in animal welfare, removes trained humane agents, and imposes unrealistic timelines for hearings and charges, as seen in cases lasting 13-18 months.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:22:00.000 - 11:17:51 AM
Joyce Brady, president of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau and a livestock farmer with draft horses, supports the bill to fix the process by empowering the Department of Agriculture, police, and licensed vets in investigations. She explains 'designee' allows flexibility for the state vet to use local resources like farmers or humane societies in remote areas like Coos County, avoiding restrictive lists that complicate the bill.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:25:00.000 - 11:20:51 AM
Donna Leavitt, owner of Hickory Nut Farm, a goat dairy in Lyman, NH, shares her traumatic experience with SPCA seizure of 54 goats based on a complaint about winter-packed stalls. Despite the farm being open and inspected, the SPCA and police executed a search warrant, manhandled goats in 90-degree heat, separated mothers from kids leading to suffering, and euthanized 22 animals unnecessarily. They demanded $40,000 for return of the rest. No charges were filed, and she is pursuing legal action. Her testimony highlights abuses in the current system, implicitly supporting the bill's reforms.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:35:19.363 - 11:31:10 AM
Robert Johnson clarifies that the bill eliminates only the humane society's role in probable cause determinations for livestock, allowing them to assist if requested by law enforcement. He notes that in Donna Leavitt's case, dairy specialists and her veterinarian were not consulted, and on-site experts were ignored, underscoring the need for state veterinarian oversight.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:37:00.000 - 11:32:51 AM
Charles Cox, a local farmer with sheep, horses, hounds, and poultry in Lee, NH, with a background from Cornell College of Agriculture, supports the bill. He expresses concern over intimidation and unpredictability from complaints disrupting farm operations. Referencing Donna Leavitt's case, he argues the bill ensures justice, protects animals, and maintains viable farms by addressing reported incidents and negative publicity.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Information Only02:40:00.000 - 11:35:51 AM
Chief Suckling provides information on animal cruelty investigations, noting the bill stems from one case but is not systemic. He praises the NHSPCA as a valuable resource in past major cases like in Alexandria. He mentions working with Senator Pearl on an amendment supported by stakeholders and clarifies that 'designee' could include licensed humane society officers, pending commission input on licensing.
HB1766 Senator Pearl's amendment
Support02:45:00.000 - 11:40:51 AM
Commissioner Sean Jasper supports the bill and its amendments. He disputes claims of licensed humane societies, stating no such licenses exist and the term is outdated. He details issues in Donna Leavitt's case, where experts were ignored, leading to unnecessary suffering and euthanasia during transport. He advocates clarifying language to limit confiscations without arrest to imminent threats, allow surrenders before euthanasia, remove references to licensed humane officers, and exempt complaint-forwarders from investigation involvement. He shares examples of excessive billing by organizations and urges acting for animal owners and agriculture. He addresses fiscal notes, court priorities, and judicial impacts.