New Hampshire 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 5 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 573 — establishing certification standards for certified public safety comfort dogs.

Last action — Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 267; Effective 08/31/2026

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 24, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte (Republican) on July 09, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 78% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (5 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill establishes certification standards for public safety comfort dogs.

This legislation creates specific standards for the certification of comfort dogs used in public safety. These standards aim to ensure the dogs can provide effective support in various public safety contexts.

Summary

(New Title) establishing certification standards for certified public safety comfort dogs.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

176 added · 179 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 573 establishes clear certification standards for public safety comfort dogs and their handlers, defining their roles and qualifications in crisis situations. This includes specifying that comfort dogs are trained to provide emotional support in various settings, such as hospitals and schools, while distinguishing them from service dogs and emotional support animals. These changes improve the framework for ensuring that comfort dogs and their handlers can effectively support individuals in distress, which is important for enhancing community well-being during challenging times.

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Latest
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 02/19/2026 0683s 14May2026...
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION 02/19/2026 0683s 14May2026...
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES 02/19/2026 0683s 14May2026...
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION 02/19/2026 0683s 14May2026...
1 New Chapter;
267:1 New Chapter;
Certified public safety comfort dogs are trained to interact gently and empathetically with people, offering unconditional support and non-judgmental companionship to help alleviate anxiety, reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being and resilience.
Certified public safety comfort dogs are trained to interact gently and empathetically with people, offering unconditional support and non- judgmental companionship to help alleviate anxiety, reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall well-being and resilienceCertified public safety comfort dogs are not considered service dogs or emotional support animals.
Certified public safety comfort dogs are not considered service dogs or emotional support animals.
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 2 - IV.
IV.
V.
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION - Page 2 - V.
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 3 - any kindergarten, primary and secondary school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the state board of education, or the commissioner of education of the state of New Hampshire.
any kindergarten, primary and secondary school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the state board of education, or the commissioner of education of the state of New Hampshire.
(b) Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA).
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION - Page 3 - (b) Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA).
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 4 - (a) A minimum of one hour per month of structured training with the certified public safety comfort dog.
(a) A minimum of one hour per month of structured training with the certified public safety comfort dog.
167-E:4 Animal Duties.
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION - Page 4 - 167-E:4 Animal Duties.
SB 573 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES - Page 5 - (b) Recertification dates and results.
(b) Recertification dates and results.
I.
CHAPTER 267 SB 573 - FINAL VERSION - Page 5 - I.
2 Effective Date.
267:2 Effective Date.
Approved:
July 02, 2026 Effective Date:
August 31, 2026
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Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor on 07/02/2026; Chapter 267; Effective 08/31/2026

  2. Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  3. Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  4. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2145e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14

  5. Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2145e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15

  6. Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/21/2026; SJ 13

  7. Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1675h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 9

  8. Amendment # 2026-1675h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 6

  9. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1675h (NT) 04/29/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 19 P. 8

  10. Subcommittee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 229

  11. Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 229

  12. Subcommittee Work Session: 04/21/2026 01:15 pm GP 229

  13. Subcommittee Work Session: 04/08/2026 10:00 am GP 229

  14. Public Hearing: 04/01/2026 10:30 am GP 229

  15. Introduced (in recess of) 03/12/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 8 P. 114

  16. Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-0683s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  17. Committee Amendment # 2026-0683s, AA, VV; 02/19/2026; SJ 4

  18. Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0683s, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6

  19. Hearing: 01/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 01:10 pm; SC 1

  20. Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 1

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 409 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (409)

409 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 409 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 573 do?
(New Title) establishing certification standards for certified public safety comfort dogs.
Who sponsors SB 573?
SB 573 is sponsored by Howard Pearl (Republican), Donovan Fenton (Democrat), Bill Gannon (Republican), Ruth Ward (Republican), Michael Moffett (Republican), and Regina Birdsell (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 573?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced November 24, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 573?
Track SB 573 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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