Bill Text: NH HB593 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to loss of consortium involving pets.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-16 - Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Judiciary House Journal 3 [HB593 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB593-Introduced.html
HB 593-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0823
09/08
HOUSE BILL 593-FN
AN ACT relative to loss of consortium involving pets.
SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 10; Rep. D. Kelley, Hills. 32; Rep. Bixby, Straf. 13; Rep. Tim Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Beauchemin, Hills. 3; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill expands the relationships eligible for potential loss of consortium damages to include pets and defines "loss of consortium," and authorizes lawsuits against governmental officials, including law enforcement officers, that intentionally or recklessly and without legal justification cause the death of a pet.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0823
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to loss of consortium involving pets.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Actions, Process, and Service of Process; Actions; Other Actions and Limitations on Liability. Amend RSA 507:8-a to read as follows:
507:8-a Loss of Consortium.
I. Loss of consortium means the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support of a spouse or pet, the loss of the enjoyment of sexual relation of a spouse, or the loss of the ability to have children with a spouse.
II. In a proper action, either a wife or husband is entitled to recover damages for loss or impairment of right of consortium whether caused intentionally or by negligent interference. Where fault on the part of the claimant or the claimant's spouse is found to have caused, in whole or in part, the injury to the spouse on which the claim for loss or impairment of consortium is based, damages recoverable shall be subject to diminution to the extent and in the manner provided for in RSA 507:7-d.
III. In a proper action, a person is entitled to recover damages for loss or impairment of right of consortium involving the death of that person's pet when caused intentionally or recklessly. Where fault on the part of the claimant is found to have caused, in whole or in part, the injury to the pet owner on which the claim for loss or impairment of consortium is based, damages recoverable shall be subject to diminution to the extent and in the manner provided for in RSA 507:7-d. A person may bring an action against any governmental official, including any law enforcement officer, under this paragraph, who intentionally or recklessly, and without legal justification, causes the death of that person's pet.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
25-0823
1/1/25
HB 593-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to loss of consortium involving pets.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Legislative Budget Assistant has determined that this legislation has a total fiscal impact of less than $10,000 in each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch
