Bill > HB670

This bill modifies the penalties for dogs classified as nuisance, menace, or vicious under existing law, adjusting the civil forfeiture amounts for different types of dog-related offenses. For nuisance offenses, the first violation now results in a warning instead of a $25 fine, with subsequent offenses within 12 months escalating to $50 and then $100. Menace offenses now carry fines of $200 for the first offense and $400 for subsequent offenses within 12 months. Vicious offenses now incur a $400 fine for the first violation, with an additional requirement that the dog owner pay all medical bills sustained by the attacked person, and a $1,000 fine for subsequent vicious offenses within 12 months. The bill also changes the legal process, mandating that court proceedings must be initiated for vicious dogs presenting a public safety threat, rather than making court proceedings optional. A new provision clarifies that these changes do not limit an individual's ability to seek civil recovery under other laws. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2026, and is estimated to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0550&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB670