Legislative Alerts

Tomorrow  (Wednesday, January 13), the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee will be considering Senate Bill 1, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This new law may be of potential interest to some AKC-affiliated clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. […]

On Wednesday, January 13, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is expected to take action on its staff’s recommendation that the state’s Licensed Breeders Program be eliminated due to its ineffectiveness, inefficiencies, and costliness.  Eliminating the licensed Breeders Program is among a series of recommendations for programs administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation […]

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the posting of its fiscal year 2020 summary enforcement data.  This data summarizes enforcement efforts on animal welfare from APHIS’ Investigative and Enforcement Services division, which investigates alleged violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and its regulations. The Fiscal Year […]

As expected, yesterday the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 2868.  The bill seeks to create court-appointed legal advocates for animals, but features language that explicitly undermines the traditional legal classification of animals as property and limits the rights of animal owners. The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly condemns animal cruelty and believes […]

The Michigan Legislature is only in session for a few more days, and your help is needed to get a vote on a bill that would finally ban breed-specific laws in Michigan. House Bill 4035 has already passed the House and only needs a vote on the Senate floor before being sent to the governor.  […]

New Jersey Senate Bill 2868, which seeks to create court-appointed legal advocates for animals, has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, December 14, 2020. All New Jersey dog owners are urged to contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today to respectfully request: (1) S.2868 not be approved, […]

On Friday, December 4, 2020, the Massachusetts Conference Committee charged with resolving differences in the House and Senate bills prioritizing funding for state programs in FY 2021, released HB 5164.  Among the funding included, not less than $50,000 will be expended for the NEADS Inc. “service dogs for veterans program” to train service dogs for […]

Today, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced final revisions to its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulations that concern the transportation of service animals.  The new finalized rules, which will be effective in January, are intended to ensure that America’s air transportation system is safe for the travelling public and accessible to individuals […]

An important bill for dogs and dog owners in Michigan continues to advance and could be considered by the Michigan Senate very soon.  House Bill 4035 would protect the rights of responsible dog owners in the state by prohibiting municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws. As House Bill 4035 is currently written, local governments would still […]

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Conference Committee of House and Senate members released SB 2963, a final 129-page compromise bill enacting law enforcement reforms.  In addition to certification training and standards for law enforcement personnel oversight, it creates decertification and other disciplinary measures for police misconduct.  The Massachusetts Legislature is expected to vote and send the bill […]