Legislative Alerts

Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Maine Committee on the Judiciary will accept public testimony on LD 888, to Allow Use of Courthouse Facility Dogs by Criminal Justice Agencies for Criminal Justice Purposes. The bill would (1) adopt definitions; (2) establish training requirements; and (3) authorize trained dogs to accompany a witness in courtroom appearances and […]

On Tuesday, March 7, a number of bills are scheduled for hearings in Illinois impacting dog owners and all who breed dogs.  This includes a bill establishing mandatory genetic testing and sterilization of dogs with “genetic defects”, among other issues. Illinois residents can make a valuable difference today by filling out a simple online witness […]

The deadline has passed for bills to be introduced in the California state Legislature. AKC is monitoring several bills impacting dog owners in California. Below are a few highlights. To see the complete list visit the AKC legislative action center at www.akcgr.org  and/or the AKC legislative tracker.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to […]

AKC continues to monitor several bills impacting dog owners in Washington state. Below are the latest updates, along with contact information if you wish to comment on any of these measures. AKC GR will continue to provide individual updates and alerts when necessary. Bills in Washington state Legislature: House Bill 1234 – Concerning the civil […]

On Monday, March 6 the New Mexico Senate Health and Public Affairs will consider a bill that prohibits tethering a dog outside for more than three hours regardless of weather conditions. The hearing will be held at 1:30pm in Room 311. Senate Bill 429 does include exemptions for: Accepted veterinary practices Activities related to acceptable research […]

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has proposed restructuring several state regulations impacting hunting and the use of public lands with dogs.  With these housekeeping changes, DEM wants to streamline how the public is able to access and abide by the regulations for hunting in a more effective way.  Rhode Island dog owners […]

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee will hear public testimony on SB 268, allowing for pre-hospital treatment and transportation for police K-9s injured in the line of duty if no human needs transport or ambulance services. The American Kennel Club (AKC) values the contribution that working and detection dogs make […]

Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 1), an Iowa committee is considering a bill that would prohibit homeowner’s and renter’s insurance providers from refusing or cancelling coverage or increasing premiums based solely on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder. All responsible dog owners and breeders in Iowa are encouraged to contact the House Commerce Committee […]

Three identical bills have been introduced in Texas that will require anyone who owns 5 or more intact female dogs over 6 months of age to become a state licensed dog breeder – even if they never breed a litter or sell a single dog. The bills are not yet scheduled for hearings, but it […]

Last week, Rockingham County (VA) Board of Supervisors unexpectedly acted without notice nor listing on the public meeting agenda on a proposed Commercial Dog Kennel Ordinance that it had tabled after a public hearing on September 28, 2022. As approved, the ordinance could impact local hobby kennels, but also contains several positive changes requested by […]