HB 1766-FN (2026): relative to cruelty to livestock.

HB 1766-FN (2026)

relative to cruelty to livestock.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Environment and Agriculture
• Senate committee: Energy and Natural Resources
• Subject: Animals

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2026 and referred to the House Environment and Agriculture committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 3, 2026, with 623 people signed in online: 48 in support and 575 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on February 10, 2026, February 17, 2026, February 18, 2026, February 24, 2026 and March 3, 2026. The committee met in executive session on March 3, 2026 to vote on its recommendation. The committee voted 12–1 to recommend that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2026-0985h), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-0985h) was adopted on a voice vote on March 11, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On March 11, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote. It crossed to the Senate on March 12, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee. The committee held a public hearing on April 2, 2026. The bill was taken off the consent calendar on April 16, 2026. On April 16, 2026 the Senate adopted “Special Order to the Next Session, Without Objection”. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1432s). On April 23, 2026 the Senate rejected a motion to lay it on the table on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Donovan Fenton. The committee's amendment (2026-1432s) was adopted on a voice vote on April 23, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On April 23, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 7, 2026 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1432s” on a voice vote, on a motion by Rep. Judy Aron. The bill was enrolled on June 4, 2026 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor — and an enrolled bill amendment (2026-2129e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on June 19, 2026. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On August 19, 2026 the House voted 249–56 to override the governor's veto on a roll call, meeting the two thirds threshold. On August 19, 2026 the Senate voted 11–13 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold.

Sponsors

• Rep. Barbara Comtois (R - Belk 7) (prime sponsor)
• Rep. Judy Aron (R - Sull 4)
• Rep. Peter Bixby (D - Straf 13)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 3, 2026, 3:00 PM: public hearing, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• February 10, 2026, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• February 17, 2026, 9:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• February 17, 2026, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• February 18, 2026, 9:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• February 24, 2026, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• March 3, 2026, 9:30 AM: subcommittee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• March 3, 2026, 10:15 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• March 3, 2026, 10:15 AM: executive session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• March 11, 2026: consent calendar, House
• April 2, 2026, 9:30 AM: hearing, Senate Energy and Natural Resources, SH 103
• April 16, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• April 23, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• May 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• August 19, 2026: floor debate, Senate
• August 19, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• March 11, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0985h — voice vote, passed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Laid on Table — voice vote, failed
• April 23, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1432s — voice vote, passed
• May 7, 2026, House: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1432s — voice vote, passed
• August 19, 2026, House: Veto Override — yeas 249, nays 56, passed
• August 19, 2026, Senate: Veto Override — yeas 11, nays 13, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 644:8
• RSA 436:8

Related Bills

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

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HJ 1, page 35
• HC 10, page 17
• HJ 7, page 36
• SJ 7
• SC 12
• SJ 9
• SC 15
• SJ 10
• HJ 12, page 4
• SJ 14
• HJ 14, page 40
• HJ 15, page 43
• HJ 16, page 54
• SJ 15
• This page’s data as JSON