8 legislatures and the District of Columbia are in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country:
California – AB 1382 prohibits the sale and importation of genetically modified pets with cosmetic traits in California, except for modifications that benefit animal health or human interaction, and imposes civil penalties for violations. After passing out of the Assembly on a 73-0 vote, the bill is advancing in the Senate and is currently before the Appropriations committee. AKC is monitoring this bill.
California – AB 1999 overhauls California’s veterinary medicine regulations. It clarifies that activities including microchipping, administering vaccinations, and artificial insemination do not need to be performed by a licensed veterinarian. It also clarifies the definition of surgery and what actions do require a veterinarian. The bill has passed the Assembly unanimously and awaits consideration from the full Senate
California – AB 2344 addresses animal abuse by enabling expedited forfeiture of abused animals in uncontested cases. The bill has passed the Assembly unanimously, is advancing in the Senate, and is currently before the Appropriations committee. AKC is monitoring this bill.
Delaware – HB 131 prohibits retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, while allowing stores to collaborate with animal shelters and rescue organizations to display animals available for adoption. Senate Amendment 1 added clarifying language and limited exceptions for certain existing retail operations that meet compliance requirements, including providing the Office of Animal Welfare with a list of all the breeders and brokers the retail pet store obtained a dog from in the previous 6 months. The bill passed the General Assembly and was signed by Governor Matt Meyer on July 23, 2026, and will take effect on January 23, 2027.
Delaware – HB 134 increases penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenses, elevates certain repeat misdemeanor violations to felonies, enhances penalties for repeat felony offenders, and imposes lifetime animal ownership bans on individuals convicted of multiple felony cruelty offenses. The bill passed the General Assembly and took effect immediately. upon Governor Meyer’s signature on July 23, 2026.
Delaware – HB 415 requires Delaware veterinarians to report suspected abuse or neglect of an animal to the Office of Animal Welfare or other appropriate authorities for investigation. As amended, the final bill narrows the reporting requirement to suspect cruelty offenses as defined under Delaware law. It also provides civil, criminal, and professional liability immunity for veterinarians who report in good faith, requires mandatory reporting training every six years, and establishes confidentiality protections for reports and reporting veterinarians. Enforcement agencies investigating animal cruelty must adopt procedures to protect reporting veterinarians’ confidentiality. The bill was signed into law on July 23, 2026, by Governor Meyer and applies to all licenses issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.
Delaware – SB 257 creates a state licensing program for animal shelters, requires inspections and ongoing compliance with shelter regulations, authorizes penalties for unlicensed operation, and expands state oversight of shelter activities. The bill also creates a separate statutory definition for an “animal rescue organization,” distinguishing rescues from shelters. Once Governor Meyer signs the bill, it will take effect January 1, 2027. AKC GR will be meeting with Office of Animal Welfare ahead of the 2027 session to discuss including licensing for rescues as well as requiring both rescues and shelters to provide sourcing information to consumers who adopt a pet from a shelter or a rescue.
Massachusetts – SB 1458 and HB 2253, opposed by AKC, required persons selling or transferring the offspring of their personally-owned animals to be licensed, inspected and regulated under the state’s authority to oversee pet shops. The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government released a re-drafted bill, HB 4365, which creates a new “personal breeder kennel” municipal license for anyone with three or more intact females whelping a litter in the preceding 12 months who sell or exchange the offspring. The state would issue regulations within 18 months for commercial breeder and personal breeder kennels to be enforced by the state and municipal animal control officers. SB 1458 was reported favorably, and further referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where it remains pending.
Massachusetts – HB 2319 mandates annual reporting by certain nonprofit animal placement entities on the importation of dogs and cats into Massachusetts. The report must detail the number of dogs and cats brought into Massachusetts during the previous year, including the state or country of origin for each animal, along with identification of the originating source and transporter. AKC supports the bill, which was favorably released by Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries and referred to House Ways and Means.
Massachusetts – Banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and guinea pigs in pet shops was originally the subject matter of SB 2720. However, that policy was limited to dogs and cats and made part of a multi-faceted animal bill, SB 3028. The bill has been assigned to a committee of conference as of July 29, 2026, as the corresponding House bill HB 5589, does not address the same areas of concern that SB 3028 does. HB 5589, on the other hand, covers a broad range of topics relating to animals, including adding definitions and additional regulations relating to veterinary practice, pet ownership in public housing, expanding laws surrounding pet insurance, and imposing additional fines on transportation network companies that impose additional charges or increase fares to persons with service animals.
New Jersey – A.2516 creates a temporary working group within the New Jersey Department of Agriculture to develop recommendations for ensuring responsible and ethical purebred animal breeding, with a final report due within one year. The bill has been assigned to the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee with no hearing date yet to be scheduled.
New Jersey – A.4207 establishes a licensure and regulatory system for dog trainers in New Jersey, by creating a dedicated board to set standards, enforce ethical practices, and protect animal welfare and consumer interests. The bill has been assigned to the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee with no hearing date currently scheduled.
New Jersey – S.419 and S.434 both prohibit the sale of cats, dogs, or rabbits by pet shops; and repeals “Pet Purchase Protection Act.” S.419 also prohibits certain transactions between animal shelters, pounds, animal rescue organizations, and animal breeders or brokers and contains definitions potentially impacting hobbyists. Both bills have been referred to the Senate Economic Growth Committee with neither currently scheduled for a hearing.
New Jersey – S.462 and A.3320 is proposed legislation that would require all pet shops, grooming facilities, animal shelters, and pet daycares to install and maintain video monitoring systems. AKC GR is working with the sponsors to ensure that the bill is for commercially operated entities only and would not impact home-based groomers/boarding or grooming that takes place at events. S. 419 has been referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee with no hearing scheduled. A. 3320 has been referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee with no hearing date scheduled.
Pennsylvania – HB 97 would allow for divorce proceedings to resolve questions regarding custody as it relates to the possession and/or care for a companion animal and recognizes companion animals as property that is different than other types of property. The bill passed the House and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. AKC GR has had conversation with Senate Judiciary Committee chair to ensure that language is limited to divorce/custody proceedings. It has yet to be scheduled for a Senate hearing.
Pennsylvania – HB 693 is legislation entitled “All Dogs Equal” which would require all kennels licensed by the state to meet the same standards and requirements for the housing, care and well-being of the dogs maintained at their facilities as are presently in place for commercial kennels. Currently, the various other types and classes regulated licenses in PA (boarding kennels, pet shop-kennels, rescue network kennels, etc.) follow less stringent rules and regulation regarding facilities and other protections required by commercial kennels. The bill is in the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Pennsylvania – HB 879 would permit the Attorney General to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for a felony offense regarding cruelty to animals if requested by a district attorney, or if the district attorney fails to respond to a request from the Attorney General’s office to prosecute. This would permit the attorney general to assist in or handle the prosecuting of large-scale animal cruelty cases in counties. It passed the House Judiciary Committee on October 27, 2025, but has not been scheduled for a House floor vote. AKC is monitoring this legislation.
Pennsylvania – HB 1515 is legislation that prohibits insurers in Pennsylvania from discriminating against homeowners based solely on the breed of dog they own, unless the dog has been legally deemed dangerous, with the new rules applying to insurance policies issued, renewed, or modified 60 days after the law takes effect. The bill has been referred to the House Housing & Community Development and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Pennsylvania – HB 1816 would phase out the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Pennsylvania pet shop-kennels by 2027, instead promoting adoption through humane societies and rescue networks. It also allows for warrantless searches to ensure compliance. The House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities held a hearing on February 24, 2026. No action was taken by the Committee but recommendation to refer to the bill to the House Agriculture Committee was offered by the Committee minority chair. AKC GR submitted written testimony opposing the bill.
Pennsylvania – SB 1190 is a Senate companion bill to HB 1816 which seeks to phases out the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in Pennsylvania pet shop-kennels by 2027, instead promoting adoption through humane societies and rescue networks. It also allows for warrantless searches to ensure compliance. It was referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rurals Affairs Committee with no hearing date scheduled.
Pennsylvania – HB 2387 allows for up to $15,000 in noneconomic damages if a companion animal is killed or sustains fatal injuries due to the intentional, reckless, or negligent act of another person or their animal, in addition to the assessed market value of the animal, which includes purchase cost, training, and veterinary expenses. In cases of non-fatal injury, up to $5,000 in noneconomic damages may be awarded, along with compensation for ongoing veterinary care and related costs. This bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee with no hearing date scheduled.
Rhode Island – AKC expressed opposition to SB 2610, which seeks to allow the rewarding of non-economic damages to owners whose pets have been negligently injured or killed. The bill was held for further study by the Senate Judiciary Committee.