New Hampshire HB 396: relative to delay or denial of records under the right-to-know law.

Bill Text

HB 396 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

7Jan2026... 3090h

05/07/2026 1719s

2025 SESSION

 25-0749

 08/09

HOUSE BILL 396

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

SPONSORS: Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7; Rep. J. Aron, Sull. 4; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Kofalt, Hills. 32; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill allows for a limited number of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats to be processed per month by a farm or a producer at a facility that is not certified by the United States Department of Agriculture.

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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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Jan2026... 3090h

05/07/2026 1719s 25-0749

 08/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

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

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

 1 Exemptions; Food Service Licensure. Amend RSA 143-A:5, IX to read as follows: 

 IX. A farm owned or operated by any person, firm, or corporation that raises bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goats for human consumption, and the direct sale within this state of the carcasses, parts, and meat[, and meat food products] of such animals, and meat food products of uninspected bison, elk, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, or red deer when slaughtered and processed in accordance with RSA 427:2-a, IV, to the consumer from such farm, at the producer's farm stand, and by the producer at farmers' markets, or when sold to a licensed restaurant in accordance with RSA 143-A:20.

 2 Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer; Cattle, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:18 to read as follows: 

 143-A:18 Definition of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, or Goats. 

 For purposes of this subdivision, "uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goats" means carcasses, parts, meat[, and meat food products] of bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goats, and meat food products of bison, elk, or red deer slaughtered and processed [in accordance with RSA 427:16, XII] and sold or to be sold [as provided in RSA 427:2-a, IV].

 3 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer; Cattle, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:19 to read as follows: 

 143-A:19 Labeling; Meat from Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, and Goats.

 All packaging containing uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goats shall be clearly labeled to include a description of the product, the name, address, and telephone number of the farm where the product originates, and the date of slaughter.

 4 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer by Licensed Restaurants; Cattle, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:20 to read as follows: 

 143-A:20 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, or Goats by Licensed Restaurants.

 I. A licensed restaurant, as defined in RSA 143-A:14, II, may purchase from bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goat producers uninspected bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goat that is labeled in accordance with RSA 143-A:19.

 II. For at least 90 days from the date of each purchase, the licensed restaurant shall keep on file the receipt of purchase to include the product purchased, the date of purchase, the name of the producer, the name and address of the farm, and phone number.

 III. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected bison, elk, or red deer with the following statement: "This product was [slaughtered] initially processed at the farm and is exempt from state and federal inspection."

 III-a. The licensed restaurant shall clearly label any menu item containing uninspected cattle, swine, sheep, or goat with the following statement: "This product was initially processed at the farm and is exempt from state inspection."

 5 Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, or Red Deer by Retailers; Cattle, Swine, Sheep, and Goats Included. Amend RSA 143-A:20-a to read as follows: 

 143-A:20-a Purchase of Uninspected Bison, Elk, [or] Red Deer, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, or Goat by Retailers.

 I. A retailer may purchase from bison, elk, [or] red deer, cattle, swine, sheep, or goat producers uninspected bi