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HB1438 • 2026

(New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

(New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ellen Read (D), Christal Lloyd (D), Diane Kelley (R), Efstathia Booras (D), Jonah Wheeler (D)
Last action
2026-04-21
Official status
SENATE
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

(New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

(New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

What This Bill Does

  • (New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment #2026-1024h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 42

Plain English: Amendment #2026-1024h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 42 1

  • The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-21 S

    Refer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 04/23/2026; SJ 10

  2. 2026-04-17 S

    Committee Report: Referred to Interim Study, 04/23/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 15A

  3. 2026-04-01 S

    Hearing: 04/09/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:40 pm; SC 13

  4. 2026-03-17 S

    Introduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 7

  5. 2026-03-11 H

    Amendment #2026-1024h : AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 42

  6. 2026-03-11 H

    Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1024h: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 42

  7. 2026-03-04 H

    Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1024h (NT) 03/03/2026 (Vote 15-1; CC) HC 10 P. 20

  8. 2026-02-27 H

    Executive Session: 03/03/2026 01:00 pm GP 159

  9. 2026-01-13 H

    Public Hearing: 01/21/2026 01:00 pm GP 231

  10. 2025-12-04 H

    Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 20

Official Summary Text

(New Title) enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 1438 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

11Mar2026... 1024h
2026 SESSION
26-2620
08/09

HOUSE BILL
1438

AN ACT
enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. Booras, Hills. 8; Rep. Lloyd, Hills. 8; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. D. Kelley, Hills. 32

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill enables mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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... 1024h 26-2620
08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT
enabling mental health caseworkers to report instances of animal abuse by their clients.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Duty to Report Animal Abuse. Amend RSA 330-A by inserting after section 35 the following new section:
330-A:36 Reports of Animal Abuse.
I. A person licensed under this chapter having knowledge of, or suspecting in good faith, that any animal has been subjected to cruelty, neglect, exploitation, or is living in hazardous conditions through information from a client that would normally be protected confidential information may report, or cause a report to be made, to a law enforcement officer or to the field services office with the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
II. The duty may be discharged by, and no monetary liability or cause of action shall arise against, any person licensed under this chapter if the licensee makes reasonable efforts to notify the police department closest to the suspected location of animal cruelty, neglect, or exploitation, or to the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
III. No monetary liability and no cause of action may arise concerning client privacy or confidentiality against any person licensed under this chapter for information disclosed to third parties in an effort to discharge a duty under paragraphs I and II.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.