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CHAPTER 160
HB 1253 - FINAL VERSION
11Mar2026... 0930h
04/09/2026 1308s
2026 SESSION
26-2770
08/09
HOUSE BILL
1253
AN ACT
exempting dogs guarding livestock or crops from nuisance dog statutes when engaged in such work.
SPONSORS: Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Kenny, Hills. 13; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill exempts dogs engaged in guarding livestock or crops from nuisance statutes when engaged in such work.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in
bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [
in brackets and struckthrough.
]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11Mar2026... 0930h
04/09/2026 1308s 26-2770
08/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT
exempting dogs guarding livestock or crops from nuisance dog statutes when engaged in such work.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
160:1 Guardian Dogs; Livestock; Crops. Amend RSA 466:30-a, I to read as follows:
I. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large, except when accompanied by the owner or custodian, and when used for hunting, for guarding, working,
guarding agricultural crops, guarding livestock,
or herding livestock, as defined in RSA 21:34-a, II(a)(4), for supervised competition and exhibition, or for training for such. For the purpose of this section, "accompanied" means that the owner or custodian must be able to see or hear, or both, or have reasonable knowledge of where the dog is hunting, where training is being conducted, where trials are being held, or where the dog is guarding, working,
guarding agricultural crops, guarding livestock,
or herding livestock. Nothing herein provided shall mean that the dog must be within sight at all times.
160:2 New Sections; Guardian Dogs. Amend RSA 466 by inserting after section 30-b the following new sections:
466:30-c Livestock Guardian Dogs.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dog may run at large while it is actively engaged in the protection, herding or management of livestock, provided that such dog:
(a) Is actively used for guarding livestock and works primarily with the livestock herd or flock in a pasture, range, field, active yard, or similar open agricultural environment, rather than primarily in a residential home, yard, or urban/suburban setting;
(b) Exhibits behaviors consistent with its working role and is not exhibiting persistent nuisance barking unrelated to guarding.
II. Any person who knowingly and willfully falsely claims livestock guardian dog status in response to a nuisance complaint, enforcement action, or otherwise to evade application of nuisance or at-large laws shall be guilty of a violation. Upon verified complaint, the local animal control authority or law enforcement agency may issue:
(a) A written warning for a first violation.
(b) A civil penalty of $150 for a second violation and the implementation of bark mitigation measures.
(c) A civil penalty of $500 or more for a third violation and subsequent violations.
466:30-d Crop Guardian Dogs.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a dog may run at large while it is actively engaged in the protection of farm crops, provided that such dog is:
(a) Is actively used for guarding crops in a pasture, range, field, active yard, or similar open agricultural environment, rather than primarily in a residential home, yard, or urban/suburban setting;
(b) Exhibits behaviors consistent with its working role and is not exhibiting persistent nuisance barking unrelated to guarding.
II. A crop guardian dog shall not be deemed to be at large for the purposes of RSA 466:28, provided that the crop guardian dog remains within the boundaries of property owned or operated by the dog owner and does not trespass onto neighboring properties or public ways.
III. Any person who knowingly and willfully falsely claims crop guardian dog status in response to a nuisance complaint, enforcement action, or otherwise to evade application of nuisance or at-large laws shall be guilty of a violation. Upon verified complaint, the local animal control authority or law enforcement agency may issue:
(a) A written warning for a first violation.
(b) A civil penalty of $150 for a second violation and the implementation of bark mitigation measures.
(c) A civil penalty of $500 or more for a third violation and subsequent violations.
160:3 Crop Guardian Dogs; Livestock Guardian Dogs. Amend RSA 466:31, II(g) to read as follows:
(g) If, whether alone or in a pack with other dogs, it bites, attacks, or preys on game animals, domestic animals, fowl, or human beings
when not on the owner's property
.
160:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: June 19, 2026
Effective Date: January 01, 2027