HB1182: adding certain equine practices to the definition of animal cruelty.

HB 1182-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2024 SESSION

24-2126

12/10

HOUSE BILL 1182-FN

AN ACT adding certain equine practices to the definition of animal cruelty.

SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Kenney, Straf. 10; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 10; Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

ANALYSIS

This bill adds the practices of hoof soring, tail nicking, tail blocking, and gingering as crimes under animal cruelty.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2126

12/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

AN ACT adding certain equine practices to the definition of animal cruelty.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Animal Cruelty; Horse Protections. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section:

644:8-h Horse Protection. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor for a first offense, and of a class B felony for a second or subsequent offense, who causes or permits:

I. Hoof soring, which is the application of any devices, caustics and or irritants to the foot or leg of a horse to cause the horse to lift its leg for aesthetic reasons.

II. Gingering, which is the application of any devices, caustics and or irritants to the anus or vagina to alter the posture of the horse for aesthetic purposes.

III. Tail nicking, which is any cutting of the muscle or tendon attached to the tail for aesthetic reasons.

IV. Tail blocking or tail nerving which is any injection or other manipulation near the base of the tail affecting the function of the nerves that control the muscles controlling tail movement for aesthetic purposes.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.

LBA

24-2126

11/27/23

HB 1182-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT adding certain equine practices to the definition of animal cruelty.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund

None

Expenditures

Indeterminable

Funding Source

General Fund

Appropriations

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source

None

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

Indeterminable

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

Indeterminable

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds, deletes, or modifies a criminal penalty, or changes statute to which there is a penalty for violation. Therefore, this bill may have an impact on the judicial and correctional systems, which could affect prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs, for the state, as well as county and local governments. A summary of such costs can be found at: https://gencourt.state.nh.us/lba/Budget/Fiscal_Notes/JudicialCorrectionalCosts.pdf

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch, Judicial Council, Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, New Hampshire Association of Counties, and New Hampshire Municipal Association