Bill Text: NH HB1107 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishing a committee to study the rental or lease of housing to a person who has pets.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-20 - Lay HB1107 on Table (Rep. Alexander Jr.): Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/16/2022 House Journal 7 [HB1107 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2022-HB1107-Introduced.html
HB 1107 - AS INTRODUCED
2022 SESSION
22-2574
11/10
HOUSE BILL 1107
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the rental or lease of housing to a person who has pets.
SPONSORS: Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Rep. Kenney, Straf. 6
COMMITTEE: Judiciary
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study the rental or lease of housing to a person who has pets.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-2574
11/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
AN ACT establishing a committee to study the rental or lease of housing to a person who has pets.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the rental or lease of housing to a person who has pets.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Four members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
3 Duties. The committee shall study the following:
I. Whether legislation should be proposed to prohibit discrimination or to add protection for pet owners and pets under property leasing and landlord-tenant laws.
II. Whether such legislation should be limited to indoor cats, animals kept in indoor enclosures, and dogs, with separate requirements. Specifically:
(a) For cats and animals kept in enclosures, allowing a refundable pet security deposit per animal, with maximum allowable security deposit. Existing laws and ordinances on the number of animals would remain in effect.
(b) For dogs, landlords would be allowed to charge an additional refundable pet security deposit unless the tenant provides proof of insurance against dogs' damages and injuries, in which case the pet deposit for other animals would apply. Landlord may demand proof of insurance. Prohibition against breed/size restrictions would remain.
III. The grandfathering of any new legislation for existing tenants so no current tenant is affected.
IV. Providing clarification that prohibition on asking about pets does not preclude a landlord from inquiring of previous landlords in regard to damages and nuisance to other tenants.
V. Establishing a process for landlord action against pet-owning tenants, in the case that damage or disruption of other tenants' peaceful enjoyment is reasonably suspected, that best maximizes the rights of pet owners without preventing landlords' ability to minimize and recover losses. The process should provide that a landlord may provide the tenant, commensurate with the offense, with a series of written warnings to remedy behavior and orders to remove the offending pet or be subject to eviction. The process should also protect the right of the tenant to timely warnings, sufficient opportunities to remedy the situation, the ability to keep the pet if a reasonable remedy can be achieved, and should clear the tenant of the responsibility of the remainder of the lease should they choose to move in response to the landlord action, provided sufficient notice to the landlord is given.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2022.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
