Bill > SB290

This bill amends the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 644:8 by introducing a clear legal definition of "torture" in the context of animal abuse cases. Specifically, the bill defines torture as any negligent or purposeful act or omission that causes intensive or prolonged pain or suffering to an animal, results in serious physical injury to an animal, or leads to the death of an animal through such negligent or purposeful actions. The definition is intentionally broad, covering both deliberate (purposeful) and unintentional (negligent) acts that cause significant harm to animals. By providing this explicit definition, the bill aims to give law enforcement and judicial systems a more precise framework for understanding and prosecuting animal cruelty cases. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, which allows time for legal professionals and animal welfare organizations to prepare for the new statutory language. While the fiscal note indicates that the bill may have some indeterminable financial impact on judicial and correctional systems, no specific appropriations are allocated.

Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=1090&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB290