[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6574401,"mediaKeyId","3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f","parentId",3080017,"title","New Hampshire Food Alliance unveils statewide food and agriculture strategic plan with 143 recommendations","audioSeconds",3634,"startMs",2246000,"endMs",5880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f&start=2246&end=5880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f/thumbnail_2246000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574401/New-Hampshire/New-Hampshire-Food-Alliance-unveils-statewide-food-and-agriculture-strategic-plan-with-143-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574401-03a42a5045d6c379c9e75fb5d6e3dde7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442608&Signature=i1juH4TfiHci~scRT-vmm-y1rMZs5G2mm~ZwhERqYIAp3ECV0FWj44OAO5oFayA4G16Ow8nxBViZto~F3voicz5aY2IcJ5l70spZbSSlxEE8fxsv4fOD-NCSf~xOOtEqI3lk3ikVhFe6aveTtnWHEiuvyxSQc9qryK76dp0QXYk8nXDnro6gW7oujtxnjezlI8ZT12etHzoL3O30QDz0~KQVnmx3nSHf9AUSiniEdcSnxx1ZQxKW4EfYITMyK3ghuMHg9SPDics5m9922GACa7DWK5~dbLGIj0NWKMKCn8dndW~ZELPWDX1WU0lGDxD2HkD0lPoJx~45apU6Nwpi4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-04-22T15:35:43.62Z","article","The New Hampshire Food Alliance presented the state’s first New Hampshire Food and Agriculture Strategic Plan to the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, outlining a multi‑year effort that produced 27 product, market and issue briefs and 143 specific recommendations designed to strengthen the state’s food system.

Nicole Cardwell, director of the New Hampshire Food Alliance (a UNH‑coordinated network), said the plan was developed over two years with support from the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, UNH Cooperative Extension and hundreds of subject‑matter experts. The alliance collected input from 118 subject‑matter experts representing 89 organizations, 26 advisory‑committee members and public comment and listening sessions. The plan was published on March 18 and is available as a printed report and as an interactive website with downloadable briefs and a recommendations filter.

Cardwell described the briefs as concise two‑page analyses that summarize current conditions, challenges and assets and provide up to five recommendations each. The briefs are organized into three categories — products (specific commodities), markets (channels such as grocery and restaurants) and cross‑cutting issues (for example, food waste, farm viability and workforce). She said the alliance emphasized equity and farm viability as lenses applied across the topics.

Committee members asked about priorities and updates. Cardwell said the alliance avoided ranking the 27 topics in a rigid priority list; instead, the site and print materials are intended as an accessible “menu” of policy options for legislators, funders and community organizations. The interactive site allows filtering by policy changes, goals and briefs to identify recommendations that match a legislator’s interests. Cardwell said the alliance plans to keep the web resource dynamic so recommendations can be tracked and updated as work proceeds.

Alan Reetz of Hanover Co‑op Food Stores said independent retailers and regional buyers rely on local suppliers and urged lawmakers to use the plan as a tool. Reetz described successful local sourcing at the co‑op and credited an earlier alliance‑led effort with helping secure approximately $1.2 million for small‑scale meat processing during the pandemic.

Members discussed several cross‑cutting topics raised by the plan, including farm viability (many New Hampshire farms have low gross sales and rising costs), food waste (national estimates show a high share of waste occurs at the household level) and composting and recovery models. Cardwell said the alliance sees the plan as a starting point, with a statewide gathering and breakout sessions planned to begin implementing recommendations.

Ending
Committee members thanked the presenters and several urged follow‑up, including sharing recommendations that could be converted into bills before the short bill‑filing window in September. Alliance staff offered to help legislators identify recommendations and potential co‑sponsors.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Environment and Agriculture (04/22/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The New Hampshire Food Alliance presented a statewide food and agriculture strategic plan that includes 27 briefs and 143 recommendations intended as an actionable roadmap for policy, funding and programs to strengthen the state's food system. Alliance leaders and business partners urged legislators to use the plan as a menu of policy options.","taxTitle","Public Works and Highways, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17759,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574406,"Committee approves study of private animal boarding after testimony about kennel problems",685,1492000,2177000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f&start=1492&end=2177","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f/thumbnail_1492000.jpg","/articles/6574406/New-Hampshire/Committee-approves-study-of-private-animal-boarding-after-testimony-about-kennel-problems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574406-961aefb54e013ffdc1c6cf633f0abe6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442608&Signature=advuWCVZI6xj0AGGpiJFi0Hi~n8daQGbZPeI6Oa0WM8Yte5JqzBfJTxhJUwk82Hh65i00g~TyvthPzYGEmCK6D6D3kPf~pnC6tl6Cwkoh8ogd5vLUKR7HYBlKc4ztkLyIz8uVUTpUA-KkXr31WNIGnBLzExux4JJeSJGJ13HaUyAtm25~~0RmDREP1nanmNgdLbbmWurAy33VIaeI6fncnAo462rD-7hL79BNNEW30pAcUTu9VngBHchmD~00O4qBrIBvjnGYrLrMZXd1LbMkY9auIUGPX-11nZVWr8PcsLaNYoOoLceQWlmY54nHrYt1i2lFES5BpWaMLhUKW68Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Environment and Agriculture Committee approved SB 50, which establishes a study committee to examine regulation of private animal boarding facilities, following testimony and committee discussion highlighting problems at some kennels and the apparent lack of a comprehensive registry of boarding operations.

Representative Haskins moved adoption of SB 50 with a “not to pass” motion; the motion was seconded and debated. Members said the hearing had included disturbing witness testimony about animals disappearing, being injured or dying while boarded. Committee researcher Kristi Ausfresser reported difficulty locating a statewide list of kennels; while businesses are registered with the Secretary of State, identifying which registrants operate kennels and where they are located proved challenging. Several members said they support a study to consider licensing, inspection authority, insurance requirements, violation penalties and owner protections.

Representative Potenza asked whether the commissioner could perform interim inspections while the committee studies the issue; committee members and staff said the commissioner currently has statutory authority to inspect shelters but not necessarily private boarding operations, so additional statutory authority would be needed for broader inspections. Representative Contois and others suggested exploring penalties or violations for operators whose practices injure animals. Representative Scully recounted a personal experience in which an owner failed to disclose a dog’s heart condition, and the boarded dog subsequently died while in another home’s care; she said clearer disclosure requirements might protect both owners and boarders.

Clerk roll call recorded unanimous support in the excerpt and the chair said the motion passed and the bill was placed on consent.

Ending
Committee members said the study should consider protections for both animals and the people who board them, and examine what types of licensure, insurance or enforcement mechanisms would be appropriate. The committee instructed staff to produce committee reports as needed and indicated the study would convene later in the year.","The committee approved SB 50 to establish a study committee on private animal boarding facilities after testimony and emails describing missing, injured and dying pets and difficulty locating licensed kennels in the state.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574410,"Committee advances bill to allow retail sale of bison, red deer and elk meat; vote places bill on consent",309,1118000,1427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f&start=1118&end=1427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f/thumbnail_1118000.jpg","/articles/6574410/New-Hampshire/Committee-advances-bill-to-allow-retail-sale-of-bison-red-deer-and-elk-meat-vote-places-bill-on-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574410-01cb81019b4b71073e4c67645f5d5b6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442608&Signature=X8j1zvn6FYE0U2utfxgoteE2F8IVkaB23ay~bwRbbAH~k15eeW077ZCm1zeyW6a-6bE4NJPaJ4DtkOv3XM3GidEj8wG0BrVQSUDIHqgkK-EMmNcFOXFqLCi6lN3MjnAyhab81MXbp~hR2LxsPc3VS~z7PMxd0We0dGhZdt2ROvCm1p6Qy72EVFBB5ASBVEAYl-Amuum-iS1IYDBS8ihdg~Ne7bgTwgsAJ2LvIJZxCWFAyzvl5WlyrUmomtXIs9ULaAqMnFG-kyIUoiFbfcGN6zmdLWzuxuRaNA9MPobzg2IE2MS1aJ-ZQgvxGTp2NEeQeWxew183I9nXSP2gCzTWzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Environment and Agriculture Committee voted to pass SB 229, a bill that allows sale of meat from bison, red deer and elk into retail and restaurant channels and eliminates a sunset that would have restored more stringent on‑site veterinary inspection requirements.

Representative Kantroy moved to pass the bill; Representative Bixby seconded. Supporters described the bill as widening market access for New Hampshire producers and improving food security by creating more retail options for locally produced meat. Representative Bixby, who worked on earlier versions of related bills, said the measure removes a regulatory requirement that had required a veterinarian to conduct pre‑ and post‑mortem inspections at slaughter — a rule that had been difficult to meet because of a shortage of veterinarians in the state. The committee noted the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture has adopted rule provisions including tissue sampling (for example, sampling every fifth animal) to address disease surveillance.

Members said elk and red deer in New Hampshire are maintained as closed herds — a practice the bill’s supporters said lowers the risk of introducing chronic wasting disease. Representative Sofakitis said humane on‑farm killing reduces animal stress and improves meat quality compared with transporting animals to a remote slaughter facility.

Clerk roll call returned a unanimous result in the recorded sequence and the chair said the motion passes; members asked that the bill be placed on consent.

Ending
Committee supporters said the department has rules and sampling protocols they trust to manage disease risk while expanding market access. The committee recorded passage and placed SB 229 on the consent calendar.","The House Environment and Agriculture Committee voted to pass SB 229, which opens retail and restaurant sales for certain non‑amenable species and removes a sunset that would have reinstated stricter on‑farm inspection requirements. Committee members said closed herds and department testing rules reduce disease risk.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6574415,"House committee concurs with Senate amendment capping hazardous-waste penalty at 25% and $1,000/day",225,593000,818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f&start=593&end=818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080017-6a0fcffedd891a6a932f30e5ba0a791f/thumbnail_593000.jpg","/articles/6574415/New-Hampshire/House-committee-concurs-with-Senate-amendment-capping-hazardous-waste-penalty-at-25-and-1000day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574415-4ea88293642734fdb90192fcf2c6c907/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442608&Signature=Ba6DKIJunZx8v~UxqbD5aqobw54-eE8TFFhGnwbeV8l7JkfOABAPxfruiompdMA34TDkDd58F1nXJWYJ-1~wNoEG6f2peWtuoj6ZDBK-1gaYQFNQXsrTL83feD5ttRp98O1t6YWBhmYtApgFWDjpYSeylZdQBuIxG2REpttA4der7xOiTMRCTOzoeHX-HPOU9XyG33EbggxuU0AU1ee8Io9oK8AxmonY41q1NS3JPacpmvNrgi2us7Y2KokNNVWI485HAjAaxaYWZJ6x9aA3KQO-5d0owH0xiXPDIcHtpX-hCQJyiOvvO4SBZoWzWTYGWYTodCRBXDs-129mvKUdew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairwoman Aaron and members of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee agreed to concur with a Senate amendment to HB 179 that alters penalties for nonpayment of fees tied to hazardous-materials accidents.

The amendment replaces the existing language governing nonpayment penalties and sets a daily penalty of no more than $1,000 per day for each day of nonpayment beyond 90 days, with a cumulative cap not to exceed 25% of the cost established for the damage. The committee noted that the change reduced the maximum possible penalty from the bill’s earlier version, which would have allowed penalties up to 100% of the initial cost.

Committee members pressed on the amendment’s practical effects. Representative Potenza asked where the change was made; Representative Aaron explained the previous limit and said the senate reduced the maximum from 100% to 25% of assessed costs. Representative Germana raised concerns that the penalty could fall on homeowners if insurance does not cover damages; Representative Comteuil and others pointed to the $1,000-per-day cap and the amendment’s payment-plan language as protections for homeowners. The amendment specifies that if a responsible party adheres to an established payment plan between the claimant and the responsible party, no additional daily penalty shall be imposed.

Members also flagged an unresolved statutory question: the current statute is not explicit about which party receives penalty payments when they are imposed. Chairwoman Aaron said the statute’s language is unclear on whether penalty money goes to the injured party and observed it might be clarified in rulemaking, but she did not recommend pursuing a committee of conference over that point now. Representative Vixby reported the prime sponsor was out of town for the Senate hearing but had since expressed support for the amendment.

Chairwoman Aaron said she would notify Clerk Smith that the committee concurred with the Senate amendment.

Ending
The committee did not hold a roll-call vote on the concurrence during the recorded discussion; the chair indicated she would notify the clerk that the committee concurs with the Senate amendment as read. Members said they expect the provision could return for further adjustment if implementation shows it is needed.","The House Environment and Agriculture Committee agreed to concur with a Senate amendment to HB 179 that reduces the maximum cumulative penalty for nonpayment of hazardous-waste accident fees and adds a daily cap. Committee members noted remaining statutory ambiguity about who receives penalty payments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Hampshire Food Alliance unveils statewide food and agriculture strategic plan with 143 recommendations

Committee approves study of private animal boarding after testimony about kennel problems

Committee advances bill to allow retail sale of bison, red deer and elk meat; vote places bill on consent

House committee concurs with Senate amendment capping hazardous-waste penalty at 25% and $1,000/day