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Committee hears simple wording fix to animal cruelty statute to cover 'foal' instead of 'colt'
Summary
Legislators and the Farm Bureau supported a technical amendment to animal cruelty statute RSA 644 that would replace the word "colt" with the gender‑neutral term "foal," closing a drafting gap that currently excludes female foals.
Representative Peter Bixby introduced HB 277 to correct wording in the state's animal cruelty statute so that protections for young equines cover all foals, not only male animals described by the term "colt."
Bixby said current statute uses the word "colt," which by definition refers to a male baby horse; the bill substitutes the gender‑neutral term "foal" and tightens related phrasing to remove the drafting gap. The change would prevent a legal interpretation that allowed female foals to fall outside the statute's protections.
Rob Johnson of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau testified in support, saying the change clarifies long‑standing drafting oddities and is consistent with other recommended changes the bureau has pursued. Committee members asked brief clarifying questions about terms such as "dam" (the mother) and about where the change fits within RSA 644, the state's cruelty‑to‑animals statute.
There was no contentious debate and the hearing was closed. Online testimony showed six people in support and one opposed. Committee staff recorded the hearing; no committee amendment or vote was taken at the hearing.
