New Hampshire weighs titer-based rabies vaccine exemptions

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New Hampshire lawmakers are weighing a bill that would let some dogs, cats, and ferrets skip a required rabies booster if a veterinarian grants an exemption based on antibody titer testing. House Bill 1488, sponsored by Rep. Keith Ammon, would add a new pathway beyond the state’s existing medical-exemption process, which now requires signoff from a licensed veterinarian, an ACVIM diplomate, and the state veterinarian. The proposal drew attention because it ties exemption eligibility to lab testing and veterinary review, but major veterinary and public health guidance says rabies antibody titers do not directly correlate with protection and should not be used as a substitute for current vaccination. As of April 1, 2026, the bill had not become law and was listed as headed to interim study after a March 11 House vote. (citizenscount.org)

Why it matters: For veterinarians, the bill sits at the intersection of client concerns about adverse events, state vaccine mandates, liability, and public health. Rabies is a core vaccine, and national guidance from NASPHV and AAHA says titers shouldn’t replace boosters when determining vaccination status. If a state creates a titer-based exemption anyway, practitioners could face harder conversations around bite cases, exposure management, boarding, licensing, and documentation, especially if pet parents interpret a positive titer as equivalent to legal immunization when public health authorities do not. (nasphv.org)

What to watch: Watch whether New Hampshire lawmakers revise HB 1488 during interim study, or narrow it back toward traditional medical exemptions rather than a broader titer-based pathway. (citizenscount.org)