On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, the New Hampshire (NH) House Environment and Agriculture Committee is convening a work session for HB 1680, which seeks to restrict newly-defined “retail pet stores” to include anyone with a physical facility who transfers more than 30 dogs per year at retail.
Serious issues with the bill were detailed in this AKC alert. New Hampshire Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) and AKC testified in opposition to the bill on January 16.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Today, residents and New Hampshire breeders are strongly encouraged to contact members of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee in opposition prior to January 31 when committee members are scheduled to vote. Consider including the following talking points:
- New Hampshire’s licensed pet vendors are required to provide health certificates and consumer protections.
- Proposed restrictions on licensed pet vendors are anti-business measures that will incentivize online pet sales and scams.
- New Hampshire residents deserve the freedom to locally acquire the best pet for their family.
- A shelter or rescue animal may not be the right fit for every family.
HOW TO REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITION:
- Email committee members using “Oppose HB 1680” in your email subject line.
- In your email, identify what city/town you’re emailing from.
- Send your email to all members of the committee by copying the addresses below.
State Representative Judy Aron, Chair – Judy.Aron@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Jim Creighton, Vice Chair – creighton4nh@gmail.com
State Representative Barbara Comtois, Clerk – Barbara.Comtois@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Kevin Verville – kevin.verville@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Arnold Davis – arnidavis@gmail.com
State Representative Jacob Brouillard – Jacob.Brouillard@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Matthew Coulon – Matthew.Coulon@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Catherine Kenny – Cathy.Kenny@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Kelley Potenza – Kelley.Potenza@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Lisa Smart – Lisa.Smart@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Peter Bixby – Peter.Bixby@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Catherine Sofikitis – catherine4Ward7@gmail.com
State Representative Sherry Dutzy – Sherry.Dutzy@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Megan Murray – Megan.Murray@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Nicholas Germana – Nicholas.Germana@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Linda Haskins – Linda.Haskins@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Molly Howard – Molly.Howard@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Allison Knab – Allison.Knab@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Corine Morse – corinne.morse@leg.state.nh.us
State Representative Paige Beauchemin – paige.beauchemin@leg.state.nh.us
- You may attend in person the January 31, 2024, House Committee hearing in Room 301-303 of the Legislative Office Building, 33 North State Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301. The work session on HB 1680 starts at 1 PM.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in New Hampshire, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org; or the Dog Owners of the Granite State at dogs.nh@gmail.com.