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. For menace offenses, the first offense fine increases from $50 to $200, and the second or subsequent offenses rise from $200 to $400. Additionally, the first vicious offense fine increases from $100 to $400, and the second or subsequent offenses increase from $400 to $1,000. Importantly, the bill also stipulates that the owner of the dog will be liable for all medical bills incurred by the person attacked.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that if a person pays a civil forfeiture two times within a 12-month period, they will not be able to pay for subsequent violations but will have those cases heard in court. In cases involving vicious dogs that pose a public safety threat, immediate court proceedings are required instead of allowing for civil forfeiture. The bill also clarifies that it does not limit 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
Version adopted by both bodies: 466:31-a