This bill amends the penalties associated with attacks by nuisance dogs under RSA 466:31. Key changes include the adjustment of minimum fines for various offenses. For the first nuisance offense, the penalty is changed from $25 to a warning, while the second offense fine is reduced from $100 to $50, and the third or subsequent offenses will incur a fine of $100. Additionally, the penalties for menace and vicious offenses are significantly increased, with the first menace offense rising from $50 to $200 and the first vicious offense from $100 to $400. The bill also stipulates that the owner of a dog that attacks a person will be liable for all medical bills incurred by the victim.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a provision that mandates immediate court proceedings for vicious dogs that pose a public safety threat, replacing the previous option for civil forfeiture. It also clarifies that nothing in this section limits any civil recovery an individual may claim under RSA 466:19 or other applicable laws. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2025 to 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 466:31-a
As Amended by the House: 466:31-a
As Amended by the Senate: 466:31-a