NH House Testimony

HB779

House · 2025 sessionRepublicanSigned into law

Sale of rabbit meat allowed

AI

Allows the sale of uninspected rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.

allowing the sale of rabbit meat in intrastate commerce.

AnimalsAgricultureBusiness and Industry

Status

Became law without signature · May 30, 2025
  1. Introduced
  2. House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Division of testimony

54 submissions
Support 51Oppose 3Neutral 0
Sharon ClarkeSupportFremont, NEfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

My daughter, Jennifer Merrill of New Hampshire, has a small farm and raises rabbits. She has many friends in New Hampshire that are farmers as well. I'd like to support this bill as it means so much to small farms. These are clean and well maintained farms. NH Is a great state and the farmers need the support. Thank You

Megan DaleySupportEnfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Farms are the backbone of our state and country. Our local farms are keeping food supply standing with all the supply chain issues.

Caitlyn PelletierSupportSanbornville, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

I raise rabbits for self consumption and dog food and I support this bill for the future, should I choose to expand.

Brian FinerSupportEffingham, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Allow farmers to farm

Ariana PetersSupportSalisbury, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

I am supportive of HB 779 to allow the sale of processed, uninspected rabbits to the public. I would like the ability to purchase local meats.

Jacqueline GilbertSupportBarrington, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Since the state is unable to provide an inspection program for rabbits raised and processed for meat, it doesn’t seem appropriate that the state would not allow the sale of rabbit meat locally, at farmers markets, or to general consumers. It makes sense to pass this bill so that rabbit farmers have an avenue to sell some of their products.

Aislinn RobinsonSupportLempster, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

This is so important for producers!

Jessica GamboaSupportDanbury, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Please consider allowing local rabbit growers to be able to sell their meat at farm stands. We WANT to purchase this locally and support are local businesses and gain healthy meat for our families

Amy Davies SmithSupportWeare, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Is a small scale farm, this legislation would be getting changing for us. We raise rabbits for our family currently, and there are many benefits to rabbits as a food source. Having an avenue to sell rabbit to the general public would add an additional revenue stream for small farms, and an additional high-quality source of protein for consumers. This type of legislation is already in place for poultry, and the rabbit harvesting process is simpler with less room for error than poultry. Additionally, as we see poultry being increasingly affected by avian flu, this provides a comparable alternative protein source.

Kathryn GreenOpposeLyme, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

These changes will create a free for all in our food chain. No to uninspected meat/meat processing facilities. Will this now mean we can process and sell horsemeat? Horsemeat has disappeared in this country because the USDA refuses to require funds for inspection. DO NOT LET THE GENIE OUT OF THE BOTTLE!

Catherine BowmanSupportKeene, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

This bill would be beneficial to both farmers and consumers to make rabbit meat more available.

Susan WeaverSupportNelson, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

1) As USDA butchering prices continue to rise so does the cost of meat to the consumer. If this bill passes it would benefit both the farmer and consumer in lower costs. 2) USDA butchers throw away an obscene amount of every animal they butcher that could be used as valuable dog and cat food for those of us who raw feed our pets. Pancreas, spleen, lung, trachea, and gullet are just some of the highly nutritional animal parts that are ALWAYS discarded by these butchers. This bill would open up the opportunity for farmers to make even more money in an untapped market and customer base who yearns for these products across the state.

Seth TremblaySupportWolfeboro, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

I support the passing of the bill. I regularly try to source products from local producers. Passing this bill would allow more freedom and choice in where I source my products. I prefer to keep as much of the food products I source to be local, within a short radius of my residence, NH or New England. Allowing this bill to pass would allow local meat producers I use to open a new opportunity for their farms. This is a great shift for the state of NH to allow rabbits as a meat source. From what I believe the only source for rabbit meat in NH is from out of country importers. We should be supporting more US based products and further more would allow intrastate farms to grow and expand their reach to NH residents like me.

George A PutnamSupportDEERFIELD, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

I, George Putnam support this bill, as I believe it will be of benefit to small farms.

Dorothea PutnamSupportDEERFIELD, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

I, Dorothea Putnam, support this bill as I feel it will help our small, local farmers.

Kayla CoronaSupportDeerfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

As it stands, there are no instate ways to have a rabbit processed for sale at farmer’s markets or direct to consumer. Current state laws are forcing rabbit farmers to interstate commerce. There are no USDA Voluntary Rabbit Inspection sites in New England. Farm stands are importing from out of country to meet consumer demands because our state prohibits them from selling local. I support this bill to create an exemption for NH produced rabbit meat sold in intrastate commerce.

Aubrey FreedmanSupportBridgewater, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Margaret KonzeOpposePembroke, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Bethany MartinoSupportCenter Ossipee, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Matthew MartinoSupportCenter Ossipee, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

deborah gliddenSupportAlexandria, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Arthur MattisonSupportLempster, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Sawyer TremblaySupportDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Jonathan LeslieSupportDeerfield, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.

Daniel RichardsonSupportNashua, NHfor MyselfFeb 19, 2025

Position recorded without written comment.