On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the New Hampshire (NH) House Environment and Agriculture Committee voted 14-to-6 that HB 1680 was inexpedient to legislate. The bill sought to restrict “retail pet stores,” which it would have defined as anyone with a physical facility who transferred more than 30 dogs per year at retail. HB 1680 is a House companion bill to SB 541, which the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously voted the same day to send to an interim study. These votes signify that the bills will very likely not advance for the remainder of the 2024 legislative session.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and New Hampshire Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) opposed the proposed bill as detailed in this alert. Congratulations to all the New Hampshire residents who contacted both committees and expressed the negative consequences of the legislation. Appreciation is also extended to the House and Senate committee members for their leadership.
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.