Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking.
Six state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session, and two state legislatures are in special session. AKC Government Relations is currently tracking more than 1,500 local, state, and federal issues. The following are highlights of current legislation around the country:
Florida – Bills have been pre-filed for 2024 that seek to exempt from public records requirements the identifying information about persons, firms, associations, and other groups that adopt animals, provide foster care to animals, and all “other persons receiving legal custody of animals” from an animal shelter or animal control agency. This potentially would conceal the chain of ownership and transfer histories of animals diagnosed with diseases or parasitic conditions and that have bite histories or behavioral issues, all of which threaten public and animal health. Cloaking certain shelter records could also hide from public oversight pet trafficking under the guise of rescue and transactions by “shelters” that purchase dogs from commercial sources. HB 273 is assigned to the Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee, the Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee, and the State Affairs Committee SB 660 has not yet received committee assignments.
Georgia – HB 217 is an animal fighting bill that contains potentially problematic prohibitions on possessing, purchasing, or selling “fighting related objects.” AKC and the Georgia Canine Coalition seek clarifying language so that the use of treadmills and other common dog training, conditioning, and physical therapy “objects” cannot be misinterpreted. The bill is assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and carries over to the 2024 session.
Georgia – HB 573 seeks to restrict sales and transfers of pets on roadsides, parking lots, and certain other public areas. It is assigned to the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and carries over to the 2024 session.
Georgia – SB 142 seeks to problematically expand the definition of “dangerous dog” to include any dog that “demonstrates a propensity for domination or aggressive behavior as indicated by any of the following types of conduct: (i) Unprovoked barking, when people are present; (ii) Aggressively running along fence lines when people are present; or (iii) Escaping confinement or restraint to chase people.” Among other requirements, the owner of a “dangerous dog” would be required to provide proof of liability insurance in the amount of $500,000 specific to bodily injury or property damage caused by the dog. This overreaching bill has 36 co-sponsors. It is assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee and carries over to the 2024 session.
Massachusetts – SB 1056 would, among other provisions, require a minimum of 100 square feet per dog for outdoor enclosures and ban the kenneling of any dog outside unattended for more than 5 hours or from 10pm to 6am. AKC opposes the measure as introduced. Read more.
Massachusetts – In response to dog injuries and deaths at dog day care facilities, HB 2019 and SB 1309 have been re-filed as “Ollie’s Law” and would impose requirements such as staffing ratios for boarding, training, dog day care, breeding and personal kennels. They would authorize animal control officers to inspect and tell you how many dogs you are allowed to own and enforce a new “personal breeder kennel” license for anyone with more than 4 intact female dogs over 6 months who transfers any offspring. Personal breeder kennels and commercial breeder kennels would be held to the same future regulations. They had a hearing in the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee on September 26 and remain pending. Details are in AKC’s alert.
Massachusetts – HB 314 would provide consumer protections at dog day care businesses and is supported by multiple animal welfare organizations, including AKC. It has been referred to the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee which held a public hearing on September 26 and remains pending.
Massachusetts – SB 1311 would eliminate from current law text that exempts from pet shop licensure any person selling, exchanging or otherwise transferring the offspring of their personally owned animals. It has been referred to the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee which held a public hearing on September 26 and remains pending. Read AKC’s alert.
Massachusetts – HB 2102 and SB 1059 would expand the current model of issuing civil fines for neglect of dogs to other domestic animals and send fines collected to the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund instead of the General Fund. The bills have been referred to the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee and were discussed at a public hearing on September 26 and remain pending.
Massachusetts – SB 876/HB 1367 would prohibit housing authorities and certain housing agreements from discriminating against tenants based upon the size, weight or breed of dog owned. They also prohibit insurance companies from discriminating based upon dog breed and have been referred to the Joint Committee on Housing. AKC supports these bills, which had a public hearing on September 26 and remain pending.
Massachusetts – SB 1311 would eliminate from current law text that exempts from pet shop licensure any person selling, exchanging or otherwise transferring the offspring of their personally owned animals. It remains pending after a September public hearing in the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee. Read AKC’s alert.
Massachusetts – HB 2102 and SB 1059 would expand the current model of issuing civil fines for neglect of dogs to other domestic animals and send fines collected to the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund instead of the General Fund. The bills had a public hearing in the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee on September 26 and remain pending.
Massachusetts – SB 876/HB 1367 would prohibit housing authorities and certain housing agreements from discriminating against tenants based upon the size, weight or breed of dog owned. They also prohibit insurance companies from discriminating based upon dog breed and have been referred to the Joint Committee on Housing. AKC submitted supportive testimony for the September 27 public hearing. The bills remain pending.
Massachusetts – HB 801 would eliminate a 48 hour facility quarantine requirement when animals are imported from neighboring states for resale or imported directly to permanent or temporary Massachusetts foster homes. Massachusetts foster homes are volunteers, not per se health experts. AKC believes HB 801 may reduce compliance and increase the risk of communicable disease spread to Massachusetts animals and citizens and testified in opposition at the November 8 Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources’ public hearing.
Massachusetts – HB 747, HB 826, SB 549, and SB 550 would require Massachusetts licensed pet shops or future pet shops to only provide the public with dogs and cats sourced from animal shelter or rescue organizations. In AKC’s experience, the number of puppies produced by responsible breeders does not satisfy demand. Shelter and rescue animals are not the best option for every family that wants a pet. AKC issued an alert and testimony was provided in opposition to these bills at the November 8 Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources’ public hearing.
New Hampshire – HB 1102 relative to the definition of animal cruelty will be introduced on January 3, 2024, and referred to the House Environment and Agriculture Committee. It would make the sale of animal that has a “birth deformity” that causes suffering, such as brachycephaly, or the intentional breeding with the intent to sell, two individual animals with the same “birth deformity” that causes suffering, such as brachycephaly; a crime. Read AKC’s alert for more information.
New Hampshire – HB 1173 would authorize seizure and a court order to issue a euthanize any dog that has attacked a human being or a domestic animal which resulted in the puncture or tearing of skin, two or more times within a 12 month period.
New Hampshire – HB 1117 would create a committee to study the protection of business operators against requests to accommodate customers with fraudulent or untrained service animals.
New Jersey – Assembly Bill 1965 seeks to provide for an advocate in cases involving animals and is a reintroduction of legislation considered in the 2020-2021 legislative session. Like its predecessor, A.1965 initially featured troublesome findings, which were removed by the Judiciary Committee. A.1965 was also amended to create a two-year initial term for the program. The bill still fails to explicitly state that animals are to be considered property under New Jersey law. AKC GR and our representatives in New Jersey, along with allied animal interest groups, continue to oppose A.1965.
New Jersey – Senate Bill 1803 seeks to prohibit declawing procedures from being performed on cats and other animals unless deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian. AKC opposes this measure because it may prohibit common and accepted animal husbandry practices from being performed on dogs. The bill was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee and has been rereferred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
New Jersey – Despite more recent efforts that reflected compromises among proponents and potentially regulated groups, Senate Bill 182 features language that was originally proposed at least as far back as four years ago to regulate pet groomers in New Jersey. The bill expansively defines the practices of pet grooming that would be regulated; and will likely apply to professional handlers. In an informational hearing before the Senate Economic Growth Committee on December 4, AKC representatives testified that in addition to a multitude of other issues, the bill must be amended to ensure that grooming that is incidental to preparing a dog for dog show or other exhibition should be conducted with appropriate care but should not be subject to licensing or professional grooming regulations. AKC expects groomer oversight legislation to be filed when the next New Jersey legislative session begins in early January 2024.
New Jersey – Senate Bill 4079 seeks to impose a statewide ban on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet stores. It also seeks to impose an expansive definition of pet dealer without substantively addressing its impact, and to completely repeal New Jersey’s consumer protection law for pet purchasers.
The Senate Economic Growth Committee held a discussion-only hearing on the bill on December 4. AKC expects to see similar radical legislation to be introduced when the next New Jersey legislative session convenes in early January.
Pennsylvania – SB 785 establishes a new Animal Welfare Board empowered to review existing laws and regulations related to the keeping and handling of animals and make recommendations for changes. Unlike a short-focused Task Force, this Board would continue until such a time that legislation was passed to eliminate it, thereby, allowing it to provide review and recommendation to any law or regulation established going forward. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
South Carolina – H 3238, among other provisions, seeks to require a person, on a second conviction for animal cruelty offenses, to forfeit all animals and to not own an animal for up to five years, regardless of the nature or severity of the offense. The AKC supports full enforcement of fair and reasonable animal cruelty laws and appropriate penalties for abusers; however, the scope of H.3238 is overreaching. It is referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, and carries over to year 2 of the 2023-2024 session.
South Carolina – H 3682 and similar S 456 seek to eliminate necessary protections under current law regarding the award of costs of care for a confiscated animal. H 3682 was minimally amended and passed in the House. The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources positively amended H 3682; however, significant concerns remain with the bill as last amended. H 3682 is pending a second vote in the Senate. These bills carry over to year 2 of the 2023-2024 session. View AKC’s most recent alert on S 456.
South Carolina – H 3247, a bill supported by AKC, seeks to increase penalties for maltreating a police K9. It is assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. It carries over to year 2 of the 2023-2024 session.
Tennessee – HB 467/SB 568, pursuant to a divorce, annulment, or alimony action, would allow a court to provide for the ownership or joint ownership of any pet or companion animal owned by the parties, taking into consideration the well-being of the animal. HB 467 failed in the Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee of House Civil Justice Committee. SB 568 passed in the Senate. These bills carry over to year 2 of the 2023-2024 session.
Tennessee – HB 991/SB 836 seek to prohibit an insurer of homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, or insurance that covers a manufactured or mobile home from making certain changes to or refusing to issue a policy based solely on the specific breed or mixture of breeds of a dog that lives or is cared for on the property. AKC supports breed-neutral legislation. HB 991 is assigned to the House Insurance Subcommittee. SB 836 is assigned to the General Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. These bills carry over to year 2 of the 2023-2024 session.
Tennessee – HB 1320/SB 835 seek to criminalize restraining a dog with a chain, cord, tether, cable, or similar device under certain weather forecasts and during evacuation orders. A person would not be subject to prosecution unless the person previously received a warning citation. The bills do not consider that forecasted conditions may not occur where the dog is kept, or that tethers can be used to safely restrain a dog prior to or during an evacuation. HB 1320 is referred to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. SB 835 was referred back to the General Subcommittee of Senate Judiciary Committee. Both bills carry over to 2024. View AKC’s most recent alert on these bills.
Texas – During the 3rd called session, House Bill 98 and Senate Bill 39 were introduced to expand Texas dangerous dog law to deem a dog dangerous if it causes bodily injury. As written, the definitions are very broad and may have unintended consequences for owners when a very minor incident is caused, for example, by a playful puppy. Both bills failed when the called session ended on November 7, 2023. A 4th called session began in late November and an identical bill, Senate Bill 22 was introduced. SB 22 failed on December 5 at the end of the 4th and final special session of the year in Texas. The next Texas session will begin in 2025.