New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

New Hampshire House Bill HB779 Compare Versions

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Old	New	Differences
1	1	HB 779-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
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3	3	20Mar2025... 0647h
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5	5	2025 SESSION
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7	7	25-0813
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9	9	08/09
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11	11	HOUSE BILL779-FN
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13	13	AN ACTallowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
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15	15	SPONSORS:Rep. Verville, Rock. 2; Rep. Ammon, Hills. 42; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
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17	17	COMMITTEE:Environment and Agriculture
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19	19	-----------------------------------------------------------------
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21	21	ANALYSIS
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23	23	This bill allows for the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
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27	27	Explanation:Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
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29	29	Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
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31	31	Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
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33	33	20Mar2025... 0647h25-0813
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35	35	08/09
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37	37	STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
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39	39	In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
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41	41	AN ACTallowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
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43	43	Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
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45	45	1 Uninspected Rabbits; Sale at Farms, Farmstands, and Farmers Markets. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 143-A:14 to read as follows:
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47	47	Sale of Uninspected Poultry and Rabbits to Restaurants and Sale of Uninspected Rabbits at New Hampshire Farms, Farmstands, and Farmers Markets
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49	49	2 Producer Requirements; Uninspected Rabbits. Amend RSA 143-A:16 to read as follows:
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51	51	143-A:16 Producer Requirements.
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53	53	I. A federally exempt poultry producer may, in a calendar year, sell to licensed restaurants uninspected, processed whole poultry that the producer has raised in a quantity not to exceed the federal limit established in 21 U.S.C. section 464 and an unlicensed rabbit producer may, in a calendar year, sell to licensed restaurants up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits that the producer has raised, provided all of the following conditions are met:
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55	55	(a) The producer is current with all educational requirements that are established by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food relative to proper methods of slaughtering, processing, packaging, and storing poultry or rabbit on the farm and its subsequent transport to restaurants; and
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57	57	(b) The producer has registered with the department of agriculture, markets, and food by providing his or her name, the name and address of the farm, and phone number, to allow for trace back in the event of disease outbreak. Such registry information shall be protected pursuant to RSA 436:6-a.
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59	59	II. An unlicensed rabbit producer may, in a calendar year, sell at his or her own farm, farmstand, or farmer's market up to 1,000 uninspected, processed whole rabbits that the producer has raised provided all of the following conditions are met:
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61	61	(a) The rabbits are raised, slaughtered, processed, packaged, and sold within the state of New Hampshire;
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63	63	(b) The producer has fulfilled all educational requirements that are established by the commissioner of the department of health and human services in consultation with the commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food relative to proper methods of slaughtering, processing, packaging, and storing rabbit on the farm and its subsequent transport to farmstands or farmers markets; and
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65	65	(c) The producer has registered with the department of agriculture, markets, and food by providing his or her name, the name of the address of the farm, and his or her phone number, to allow for trace back in the event of disease outbreak. Such information shall be protected pursuant to RSA 436:6-a.
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67	67	III. The department may inspect these exempt products when the department has reason to suspect an imminent health hazard as defined in RSA 143-A:3, IV-b.
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69	69	3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
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71	71	LBA
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73	73	25-0813
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75	75	1/13/25
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77	77	HB 779-FN- FISCAL NOTE
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79	79	AS INTRODUCED
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81	81	AN ACTallowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.
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83	83	FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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86	86	Estimated State Impact
87	87	FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028
88	88	Revenue $0 Indeterminable (Less than $10,000) Indeterminable (Less than $10,000) Indeterminable (Less than $10,000)
89	89	Revenue Fund(s) General Fund
90	90	Expenditures* $0 Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable
91	91	Funding Source(s) General Fund
92	92	Appropriations* $0 $0 $0 $0
93	93	Funding Source(s) None
94	94	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
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98	98	Estimated State Impact
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100	100	FY 2025
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102	102	FY 2026
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104	104	FY 2027
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106	106	FY 2028
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108	108	Revenue
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110	110	$0
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112	112	Indeterminable (Less than $10,000)
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114	114	Indeterminable (Less than $10,000)
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116	116	Indeterminable (Less than $10,000)
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118	118	Revenue Fund(s)
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120	120	General Fund
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122	122	Expenditures*
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124	124	$0
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126	126	Indeterminable
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128	128	Indeterminable
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130	130	Indeterminable
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132	132	Funding Source(s)
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134	134	General Fund
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136	136	Appropriations*
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138	138	$0
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140	140	$0
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142	142	$0
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144	144	$0
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146	146	Funding Source(s)
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148	148	None
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150	150	Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill
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152	152	METHODOLOGY:
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154	154	This bill allows farms in New Hampshire raising 1,000 or fewer rabbits annually to sell whole rabbit carcasses directly to consumers, farm stands, farmers' markets, and licensed restaurants, provided they comply with specific slaughter, labeling, and record-keeping regulations. Rabbit meat exempt from inspection must include clear labeling with producer information, a disclaimer of inspection exemption, and safe handling instructions. Licensed restaurants purchasing uninspected rabbit must retain purchase records and disclose the exemption status on their menus.
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156	156	The Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food states this bill appears to alter existing federal exemptions regarding the sale of uninspected rabbit meat. Under current federal regulations, producers processing fewer than 1,000 rabbits annually are exempt from inspection requirements, provided specific federal criteria are met. This bill seems to remove or modify those criteria from state law. At this time, the Department will not provide a fiscal note for legislation that appears to conflict with federal law.
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158	158	The Department of Health and Human Services estimates an indeterminable fiscal impact of less than $10,000 annually resulting from this bill. Currently, under RSA 143-A, the sale of uninspected rabbit meat to licensed restaurants in New Hampshire is permitted. The proposed legislation expands this allowance to include sales directly from producers at farm stands and farmers' markets. This change may reduce the number of farms seeking food licensure, leading to a potential decrease in the annual license fees paid, which are deposited into the General Fund. As a result, the fiscal impact on state revenue from this decrease in licensure is indeterminable.
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160	160	Additionally, the Department notes they do not have jurisdiction over the provisions in RSA 427 as well as the bill conflicts with existing regulations for the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in RSA 143-A:14, 143-A:15, 143-A:16, and 143-A:17.
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162	162	AGENCIES CONTACTED:
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164	164	Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and Department of Health and Human Services