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Committee backs guidance approach for fair pig scrambles; department raises enforcement concerns
Summary
An amended HB1013 would direct the Department of Agriculture to publish best‑handling practices and allow rulemaking to enforce them for pig scrambles at fairs. Supporters urged education and animal safety; the Agriculture commissioner said the department lacks investigatory capacity to police events and asked to limit the bill to guidance.
Representative Judy Aaron presented an amended version of House Bill 1013 that stops short of an outright ban on pig scrambles at fairs and instead directs the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food to publish best‑handling practices and to adopt rules for enforcement when warranted.
Why it matters: Testimony revealed broad support for guidance and education to reduce animal stress at popular county and regional fair events, while also highlighting practical limits on oversight. Kurt Arinberg of Humane World and Joan O’Brien (New Hampshire Animal Rights League) supported standards that would reduce heat stress, ensure access to water and clarify supervision at scrambles. Rob Johnson (New Hampshire Farm Bureau) said properly overseen scrambles are not inherently inhumane and welcomed a role for the department to create best practices.
Department limits: Commissioner Sean Jasper said the department did not weigh in on the bill’s original ban because it was outside their remit, and he expressed concern about section two of the amended bill that would attach penalties for failing to follow best practices. Jasper told senators the department is not an investigatory police agency, staff time is limited, and many events occur outside normal business hours, complicating on‑site enforcement.
Committee intent and next steps: Sponsors said the aim is to provide organizers with clear, practical standards and an enforcement path for repeat or serious violations. The committee took testimony and did not vote; members said they would consider language that preserves guidance while addressing enforcement feasibility and agency capacity.
