HB 396 (2026): relative to the processing of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.

HB 396 (2026)

relative to the processing of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats at facilities not certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.

• Status: Vetoed, override failed
• Term: 2025-2026
• House committee: Environment and Agriculture
• Senate committee: Commerce
• Subject: Agriculture

The Story

It was introduced on January 9, 2025 and referred to the House Environment and Agriculture committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 18, 2025, with 364 people signed in online: 348 in support and 16 in opposition. The committee held work sessions on February 19, 2025 and March 4, 2025. The committee met in executive session on March 4, 2025 to vote on its recommendation. The committee retained the bill, holding it for further work rather than reporting it out this year. The committee held work sessions on September 9, 2025, November 5, 2025 and November 12, 2025. The majority recommended that the House pass it with changes (amendment 2025-3090h), and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 9–3. The report was placed on the regular calendar. The committee's amendment (2025-3090h) was adopted on a voice vote on January 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On January 7, 2026 the House voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 214–119. It crossed to the Senate on January 29, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Commerce committee. The committee held a public hearing on February 10, 2026. The committee voted unanimously, 5–0, to recommend that the Senate pass it with changes (amendment 2026-1719s), and the report was placed on the consent calendar. The committee's amendment (2026-1719s) was adopted on a voice vote on May 7, 2026, changing the text of the bill. On May 7, 2026 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a voice vote and ordered it to a third reading. On May 21, 2026 the House adopted “House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1719s” 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 (2026-2155e) was adopted on a voice vote to correct technical errors found after passage. The governor vetoed it on July 10, 2026. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. On August 19, 2026 the House voted 204–116 on overriding the governor's veto on a roll call, and the veto was sustained, failing to meet the two thirds threshold. On August 19, 2026 the House adopted “Reconsider HB 396” on a roll call 187–120, on a motion by Rep. Jack Flanagan. On August 19, 2026 the House voted 202–107 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. Michael Granger (R - Straf 2)
• Rep. Jim Kofalt (R - Hills 32)
• Rep. Erica Layon (R - Rock 13)
• Sen. Daniel Innis (R - SD7)
• Sen. Howard Pearl (R - SD17)

Hearings and Sessions

• February 18, 2025, 2:00 PM: public hearing, House Environment and Agriculture, LOB 301-303
• February 19, 2025, 9:30 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, LOB 301-303
• March 4, 2025, 9:30 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, LOB 301-303
• March 4, 2025, 11:20 AM: executive session, House Environment and Agriculture, LOB 301-303
• September 9, 2025, 10:30 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• November 5, 2025, 10:00 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP153
• November 12, 2025, 11:00 AM: full committee work session, House Environment and Agriculture, GP 153
• January 7, 2026: floor debate, House
• February 10, 2026, 10:30 AM: hearing, Senate Commerce, SH 100
• May 7, 2026: consent calendar, Senate
• May 21, 2026: floor debate, House
• August 19, 2026: floor debate, House

Votes

• January 7, 2026, House: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 214, nays 119, passed
• May 7, 2026, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1719s — voice vote, passed
• May 21, 2026, House: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1719s — voice vote, passed
• August 19, 2026, House: Veto Override — yeas 204, nays 116, failed
• August 19, 2026, House: Reconsider — yeas 187, nays 120, passed
• August 19, 2026, House: Veto Override — yeas 202, nays 107, failed

The Docket

Laws It Would Change

• RSA 143-A:5
• RSA 143-A:18
• RSA 143-A:19
• RSA 143-A:20
• RSA 143-A:20-a
• RSA 427:2-a

From the General Court

• Bill text
• Bill status page
• Docket
• HC 51, page 32
• HJ 1, pages 164 and 166
• SC 5
• SC 17
• SJ 11
• HJ 14, page 10
• SJ 14
• HJ 15, pages 46 and 56
• SJ 15
• HJ 16, pages 12, 38 and 42
• This page’s data as JSON