The following bills have been scheduled for public hearing on Monday, March 1, 2021. AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) encourages New Hampshire residents to take action on these bills as follows:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
9:00 am – HB 431 would require elected animal control officers take an oath to faithfully discharge their duties and authorize the supervision of the performance of such officers by town select boards. Last year, AKC GR testified before the Governor’s Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency, noting that third parties and organizations contracted to perform law enforcement responsibilities, such as animal control, should be subject to reporting, investigation, and consequences for any misconduct. The final report included AKC’s testimony.
AKC GR strongly supports HB 431’s accountability provisions. Because HB 431 may not apply to all animal control officers, AKC is recommending changes to ensure uniform standards for anyone providing animal control services.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: New Hampshire residents should express support for this bill and ask that accountability provisions apply to all those providing animal control services. Email the House Committee on Municipal and County Government at HouseMunicipalandCountyGovt@leg.state.nh.us before March 1, 2021, at 9am.
AMENDING DEFINITION OF “OPEN SPACE LAND”
10:30am – AKC GR is concerned that under HB 467, land currently used to harbor non-native, non-domesticated animals would no longer be considered “open space land”. Training bird hunting dogs often takes place at facilities that benefit from the current “use tax deduction” for “open space land”. Removing the tax deduction could have a negative impact on those who train and hunt with dogs for pheasant or partridge.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: New Hampshire sportsmen and women are encouraged to immediately contact the House Committee on Municipal and County Government with your opposition to this change at HouseMunicipalandCountyGovt@leg.state.nh.us.
TO SPEAK AT THIS HEARING
(1) Go to http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx; (2) select March 1, 2021; (3) select the House Committee on Municipal and County Government; (4) select either HB 467 or HB 431; and (5) complete the registration to speak.
AKC GR will continue to provide updates on pending dog-related legislation in New Hampshire. For more information on these or other legislative issues in the state, contact AKC GR at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org;