Bill > HB424

This bill directs the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food to create a detailed "Service Animal Hospitality Form" for businesses in the lodging and restaurant industries, which requires information such as the animal's name, owner's details, registration state, the specific function the service animal performs, and includes important legal disclaimers about misrepresenting service animals. Additionally, the bill establishes a legislative study committee composed of six members (three from the House of Representatives and three from the Senate) to investigate ways of protecting business operators from requests to accommodate customers with fraudulent or untrained service dogs. The committee will review existing federal law restrictions and potentially recommend solutions, including requesting federal legislation from New Hampshire's congressional delegation. The committee is required to elect a chairperson, hold its first meeting within 45 days of the effective date, and submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations by November 1, 2025. The bill emphasizes the distinction between legitimate service animals and companion or comfort animals, and seeks to provide businesses with a standardized method of documenting service animal presence while protecting the rights of individuals with genuine service animal needs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0711&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB424