HB 1709-FN (2026): prohibiting certain unlawfully present felons from occupying or renting real property, relative to pet vendor foster home and defining pet vendor foster facility, and providing procedures for the potential confiscation of livestock involved in cruelty to animal cases.

HB 1709-FN (2026)

prohibiting certain unlawfully present felons from occupying or renting real property, relative to pet vendor foster home and defining pet vendor foster facility, and providing procedures for the potential confiscation of livestock involved in cruelty to animal cases.

• Status: Died when the session ended
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Housing
• Senate committee: Judiciary
• Subject: Housing

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Housing committee. The committee held a public hearing on January 27, 2026, with 368 people signed in online: 13 in support and 355 in opposition. The committee met in executive session on March 3, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0943h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–8. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0943h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 11, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 11, 2026 the House failed “Lay HB1709 on Table” on a roll call 153–181, on a motion by Rep. Ellen Read. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 181–154. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 2, 2026. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it. On April 16, 2026 the Senate adopted “Special Order to 05/14/2026, Without Objection”. The committee voted 3–2 to recommend that the Senate pass it. A floor amendment (2026-1939s), offered by Sen. Regina Birdsell, was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. A floor amendment (2026-1978s), offered by Sen. Howard Pearl, was adopted on a voice vote on May 14, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 14, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 14, 2026 the House adopted “House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1978s and 2026-1939s and Requests CofC” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Alexander Jr. On May 14, 2026 the Senate adopted “Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Bill Gannon. A committee of conference met on May 26, 2026 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On June 4, 2026 the Senate voted to lay it on the table on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Howard Pearl.

Sponsors

• Rep. Joe Alexander (R - Hills 29) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Ross Berry (R - Hills 44)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Rep. Katelyn Kuttab (R - Rock 17)
• Rep. Kristine Perez (R - Rock 16)
• Rep. Katy Peternel (R - Carr 6)
• Rep. Kimberly Rice (R - Hills 38)
• Sen. Victoria Sullivan (R - SD18)

Hearings and Sessions

• January 27, 2026, 2:00 PM: public hearing, House Housing, GP 231
• March 3, 2026, 10:00 AM: executive session, House Housing, GP 231
• March 11, 2026: floor debate, House
• April 2, 2026, 1:30 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 100
• April 16, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 14, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 26, 2026, 2:45 PM: committee of conference, GP 234
• May 26, 2026, 2:45 PM: committee of conference, GP 234
• June 4, 2026: floor debate, Senate

Votes

• March 11, 2026, House: Lay on Table — yeas 153, nays 181, failed
• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 181, nays 154, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendments #2026-1939s and #2026-1978s — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, House: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1978s and 2026-1939s and Requests CofC — voice vote, passed
• May 14, 2026, Senate: Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — voice vote, passed
• June 4, 2026, Senate: Laid on Table — voice vote, passed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 540
• RSA 437:1
• RSA 437:3
• RSA 644:8
• RSA 436:8

Related Bills

• HB 1766-FN (2026): relative to cruelty to livestock.
• SB 475 (2026): relative to pet vendor foster homes, defining pet vendor foster facility, and relative to cruelty to livestock.
• HB 1766-FN (2026): relative to cruelty to livestock.
• HB 1766-FN (2026): relative to cruelty to livestock.
• SB 475 (2026): relative to pet vendor foster homes, defining pet vendor foster facility, and relative to cruelty to livestock.

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 32
• HC 10, page 55
• HJ 7, pages 221, 222 and 224
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SC 14
• SJ 9
• SC 18
• SJ 12
• HJ 13, page 150
• SJ 13
• SJ 14
• This page’s data as JSON