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:
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 have been referred to the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee which held a public hearing on September 26. 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 37 would establish a committee to study best practices for companion animal groomers. At a February 7 public hearing, lawmakers expressed a desire to ensure animals’ safety and groomer compliance with best practices without having to create a state occupational license. The committee voted the bill “inexpedient to legislate” on October 25. Instead, the committee is asking a state agency to post a consumer guide that will assist the public in choosing a pet groomer.
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 York – S. 4099/A. 2917 makes certain hunting competitions illegal. As written, however, both bills contain important amendments requested by the AKC to protect training and performance events. The bills have passed the legislature and will soon be sent to the governor for consideration. Read more.
Ohio – House Bill 277 would provide tax credits to landlords who allow tenants to keep companion animals without charging a nonrefundable fee or additional rent. In addition, to qualify for the tax credits, the landlord may not have any breed-specific policies on the rental units. This bill was introduced in an effort to address shelter population concerns in Ohio. AKC supports HB 277, which had a public hearing for supporters in the House Ways and Means Committee on October 31. Read more.
Pennsylvania – SB 746 updates the Commonwealth’s Dog Law. Even though AKC participated in a stakeholder meeting ahead of the formal introduction, both bills contained language not included in the stakeholders’ agreed to draft that removed an existing provision providing an exemption from licensing and health certification requirements for dogs entering the Commonwealth temporarily to participate in dog events. Further, the legislation changed the provision of a veterinarian issued health certificate to an interstate certification of veterinarian inspection. AKC GR was successful in securing an amendment to reinstate this important exemption. Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 746 into law (Act No. 18 of 2023) on October 23rd. Read AKC’s information update for more details.
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.
Texas – During the 3rd called session, House Bill 98 and Senate Bill 39 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 earlier this week and an identical bill, Senate Bill 22 was introduced.