Farm to Table - HB779

Rabbit Meat Sales in New Hampshire

We've been diligently working on changing the laws surrounding rabbit meat here in the state of NH. RSA 143:A 14-15 allows NH rabbit farmers to sell to licensed restaurants within the state once registered with the NH Ag, which we obtained our registration in 2024. However, this registration does not allow us to sell processed rabbit directly to customers. In order to do that, we would need to have the rabbit processed at a USDA inspected facility. The problem was, there are no voluntary rabbit processing facilities in New Hampshire, or New England for that matter.

After noticing this discrepancy, we knew we needed to make a change. We started working with our state reps pointing out the biggest flaw which was that by requiring rabbits to be processed in a USDA facility, we were being forced to enter Interstate commerce. Since rabbit is FDA regulated it can be voluntarily inspected at specific USDA processing locations; the closest of which is located in Wisconsin. 

We spoke with our state reps who agreed this was a major flaw in the original RSA 143, thus, HB 779 was drafted. Originally, we proposed an exemption for direct-to-consumer sales, however the House amended this bill to allow direct to consumer sales once registering with the NH Department of Agriculture under RSA 143. On March 20, 2025, the NH House Environmental and Agricultural committee voted UNANIMOUSLY to pass HB779. HB 779 is set to change the way our state regulates the sale of rabbit meat by allowing registered individuals to sell rabbit to consumers on farm, in local farm stands and at farmers markets.

SENATE UPDATE

HB779 has PASSED the NH Senate. The bill was placed on the consent calendar after the initial hearing on April 1, 2025. During this hearing, one senator expressed concerns that selling rabbit meat would open the market up for new farmers, not just the ones already selling to restaurants. She voted "no" at the hearing but could not articulate why she voted no. Ultimately it was placed on the consent calendar. On April 17, 2025 the Senate voted to pass the bill which now sends it to Gov. Ayotte's desk for signing into law. Once signed, the bill will take effect after a 60 day wait period.