increasing the cost of service for notice of civil forfeiture of unlicensed dogs to the rate for certified mail.
This bill revises the process for addressing unlicensed dogs, affecting dog owners and local municipalities. It outlines steps for local officials to identify and issue civil forfeiture notices to owners of unlicensed dogs. A key provision sets the maximum cost for serving these notices, whether by certified mail, in-hand delivery, or leaving it at the owner's home, to not exceed the U.S. Postal Service rate for certified mail with return receipt. The bill also requires a written warning before an unlicensed dog can be seized and details the process for reclaiming a seized dog.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 23, 2024
Signed May 8, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 8, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor Ayotte 05/08/2025; Chapter 7; eff.7/7/2025
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/17/2025; SJ 10
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 04/17/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced 03/06/2025 and Referred to Election Law and Municipal Affairs; SJ 7
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-0036h: MA VV 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 6
lower
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced
Amendment # 2025-0036h: AA VV 02/06/2025 HJ 4 P. 6
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0036h 01/23/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 10 P. 4
lower
Dec 23, 2024
Introduced
Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Municipal and County Government HJ 2 P. 5
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Charlie St. Clair
DDemocratic
Co
John Sellers
RRepublican
Co
Timothy Soucy
DDemocratic
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