Legislative Alerts

On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold a hearing on a bill seeks to remove the cap on compensatory damages for which a person who tortiously causes an injury to or death of a pet is liable. Those who wish may comment on this bill using the information below. […]

The Connecticut Joint Environment Committee’s public hearing agenda for Wednesday, February 28, 2024, includes HB 5223; which would, as part of a handful of provisions under the oversight of the Department of Agriculture, amend the legal definition of “grooming facility” to include those doing business in “any vehicle or trailer”.  As a result, professional handlers […]

Yesterday, the Indiana House of Representatives gave final approval to a bill that would allow pet stores to continue to sell dogs in Indiana with specific guidelines regarding the care of animals and also require rescues to register with the state. The bill will soon go to the Governor.  Those who wish to contact Governor […]

This week, the Senate State Government and Elections Committee advanced a bill that would protect owners and pets during extreme weather situations. Next up, the bill is scheduled for a critical hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday, February 23. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and is nearing […]

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the Borough of Montvale, New Jersey, is scheduled to consider an ordinance to prohibit the sale of professionally bred and regulated dogs and cats in retail stores. AKC opposes efforts such as this that limit pet choice and consumer protections for area families seeking to purchase a purpose bred pet […]

This week the Kansas House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee substituted HB 2542 and removed problematic language requiring a bond for the care of seized animals at the request of AKC. The introduced version of the bill required a licensee to post a bond for the care of their seized animals, and if a licensee […]

A bill is advancing in the Arizona Senate that would prohibit landlords from prohibiting specific breeds of dogs in rental properties if they allow dogs on the premises. The AKC supports Senate Bil 1439, which provides a proactive solution to addressing shelter population concerns by keeping pets in homes with their responsible owners and also […]

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024 the Hawai’i Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 2692, which seeks to significantly expand the state’s dangerous dog law.  As with its companion bill (HB 2058), the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) concerns include: Proposed enforcement processes do not provide appropriate opportunities for an owner to appeal a […]

Senate Bill 204 seeks to designate the Treeing Walker Coonhound as the official state dog of Kentucky. The bill recognizes that the Treeing Walker Coonhound is a native Kentucky dog breed developed in the 1800s by two Kentucky breeders. Kentucky dog lovers are urged to contact their state senators and representatives and ask them to […]

Bills of interest to Tennessee dog owners are advancing through the state legislative process. New Bill Information:  HB 2266/SB 2030 seek to amend state laws governing rental housing and leases to establish that “reliable documentation” regarding need for a support animal does not include documentation provided through a website, the primary function of which is […]