Legislative Alerts

This week, the House Judiciary Committee is accepting testimony on multiple bills.  Text of bills are embedded in the links.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) strongly encourages Rhode Island residents to take action as follows: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the rise of the House: DOGS OUTSIDE AND UNATTENDED - H. 5736 would amend the […]

Texas House Bill 652 would require animal shelters to provide notice to each person who adopts an animal from the shelter of any epizootic infectious disease that occurs among the animals in the shelter within a 15-days period before and after the date of transfer. “Epizootic” means the occurrence in a given geographic area or […]

The Colorado House has passed a bill that would limit consumer choice in the state by restricting new pet stores from opening, creating new requirements regarding what information about breeders must be made publicly available by state pet stores, and potentially allowing local referendums on this issue. The bill has been assigned to the Senate […]

As mentioned in a previous alert, a bill has been introduced in the California Assembly that would regulate all breeders in the state. The bill has now been assigned to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.  No hearing has been scheduled; however, it is important that the committee members hear from Californians who will be […]

On Wednesday, March 10 at 12:00pm, The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will be holding a hearing on Senate Bill 760 that addresses the issue of animals that are seized and the costs of their care during impoundment.   This is identical to House Bill 1080, which was considered earlier this week.  Click here. AKC strongly […]

On Tuesday, March 9, the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a bill that provides court-appointed advocates to represent the “interests of justice” in a case involving health, safety or injury to a dog or cat. Senate Bill 153 is similar to bills being introduced in other states in an effort to alter the legal […]

The Wyoming Senate continues to consider how to address the issue of animals being seized, and the payment of their care during impoundment. Both Senate Bills 24 and 25 would require those whose animals are seized on suspicion of cruelty to pay a bond to cover the costs of care while the animals are impounded. […]

Texas House Bill 873, which seeks to rewrite the state’s dog tethering laws, is scheduled for consideration by the House Criminal Justice Committee on Monday, March 8, 2021.  Interested dog owners are encouraged to share their views with the committee before this meeting. HB 873 would replace Texas’ current dog tethering statutes with updated provisions.  […]

On Thursday, March 4 at 1:30pm, The Maryland House Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on House Bill 1080 that addresses the issue of animals that are seized and the costs of their care during impoundment. AKC strongly believes that those who treat animals in a cruel manner should be held accountable and punished […]

Senate Bill 650 seeks to ban unattended tethering of dogs and cats, with limited exemptions that would apply only during certain weather conditions. SB 650 would also authorize confiscation of an improperly tethered dog. The bill is on the agenda of the Senate Committee on Agriculture tomorrow, March 3, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. As introduced, […]