The following list highlights some of the AKC Government Relations’ (AKC GR) legislative successes through June 30, 2025. These and other victories have been won in cooperation with AKC federations, clubs, and responsible dog owners and breeders around the country who continue to work tirelessly to promote positive canine legislation in their state and community.
To view all Legislative Alerts posted for your state in 2025, as well as the latest information on all bills being tracked by the AKC Government Relations Department, visit the AKC Legislative Action Center at www.AKCgr.org.
Arizona
SB 1457 would have required “all backyard breeders and hobby breeders” to obtain a state companion animal permit. AKC reached out to the sponsor and committee chair to express our concerns. It did not receive a hearing.
SB 1456 would have required anyone who maintains female dogs “for the primary purpose of selling their offspring as companion animals” to be regulated as a commercial breeder and comply with USDA regulations. AKC reached out to the sponsor and committee chair to express our concerns. It did not receive a hearing.
California
AB 1482 was a comprehensive bill addressing animal shelters and sought to lower the definition of dog breeder in the state. AKC issued alerts, submitted letters and met with lawmakers in opposition to the bill. The bill was held in the state Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not advance this year.
AB 867 sought to ban declawing of cats for non-medical reasons. As originally drafted, the bill would have also banned removing dog dewclaws. After working with the author, AKC was able to secure an amendment so that the bill strictly applies to cats. The bill is advancing through the Legislature.
Colorado
HB 25-1180 sought to prohibit any sale or transfer of dogs on public property. AKC GR worked with the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners, who were successful in exempting transporting dogs for competition and hunting. In addition, CFDCO has an agreement that this will not apply to pre-arranged sales. The bill was signed by the governor.
Connecticut
HB 5112 (An Act Prohibiting Certain Sales and Leases of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits in Retail Pet Stores) was considered by the Joint General Law Committee. AKC issued this alert and testified in opposition. Similarly, HB 6240, HB 6255, HB 5909 and HB 5138 also designed to further regulate pet stores were sent to the Joint Environment Committee for consideration. On March 12, the Joint General Law Committee acknowledged concerns raised and its limited scope with respect to the bill’s objectives and therefore voted to forward the bill for consideration by the Joint Environment Committee. HB 5112 did not advance.
HB 6226 would have allowed an impounded dog, including those deemed dangerous and seized by animal control, to be housed in a volunteer’s foster home for 90 days while pending final court disposition. AKC issued this alert and submitted opposition to the March 24 Joint Environment Committee hearing. It did not advance from committee before the deadline.
HB 5902 (An Act Concerning the Breeding of Animals in the State) would have regulated the breeding of animals within the state by mandating that individuals or companies involved in breeding activities be registered with the Department of Agriculture. The Department would have been required to establish comprehensive guidelines for animal breeding practices, develop and maintain a breeder registry, and collect registration fees from breeders. AKC contacted the sponsor who indicated that she is concerned about overpopulation at Connecticut shelters. The bill did not move forward.
HB 6998 would have required the licensing of dogs every three years instead of annually and would continue to impose the current fees that are higher for intact dogs. AKC issued this alert and submitted testimony outlining concerns with the bill for the February 24 public hearing. It did not move forward.
Delaware
House Bill 131 would limit consumer access to responsibly bred pets by restricting pet stores to sourcing animals only from shelters or rescues. AKC expressed concerns that it could actually increase the trafficking of unhealthy pets to consumers and limit consumer protection and consumer choice when purchasing a pet. While this bill passed out of the House Health & Human Development Committee on May 14, 2025, it was not brought before the full House for a vote prior to the June 30 end of the first session. The bill will remain active and could move during the second half of the session scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Florida
SB 1830 and HB 1481 sought to impose registration and inspection requirements on any dog owner of an intact female dog more than six months of age. Similar to legislation first introduced in 2023, these bills were also part of a legislative package that created fees and appropriations. The bills also would have allowed local government entities and dog rescue organizations to develop dog breeding standards of care, including federal commercial breeder standards for breeders’ private homes. Other provisions included limits on the number of breeding females a dog breeder can have, and limits on the number of times a breeding female may be bred annually. AKC strongly opposed these bills, which did not receive committee hearings before being excluded from further consideration during the regular session’s extension. Click here for more information.
Hawaii
SB 593 would have licensed commercial breeders. AKC requested amendments to help ensure that hobbyists would not be considered commercial entities and to remove the limit on the number of dogs someone may own. The bill’s author adopted some of AKC’s recommendations, but the bill did not ultimately pass.
Kansas
Senate Bill 130 would have required licensees under the Kansas Pet Animal Act to post a bond for the care of animals seized by the Department of Agriculture for alleged violations. The bond would prevent the sale or euthanasia of the animals until a final determination after an administrative hearing, but failure to post within 10 days would result in automatic legal transfer of the animals. The bill failed to provide remedies for owners whose animals were wrongfully seized. It failed without a hearing. The AKC met with five members of the Kansas Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in January, urging them to oppose a hearing, and these efforts were ultimately successful.
Maine
LD 962 would have created a new criminal offense of aggravated operating under the influence resulting in the death of a pet. The bill would also require the offender to provide restitution to the owner of the pet, including veterinary costs, the market value of the pet and a sum for emotional distress. AKC issued an alert and testified in opposition to the non-economic damages provisions in the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. It was voted ought not to pass on April 15.
L.D. 133 amends the laws regarding nuisance dogs. AKC issued an alert and testified in opposition, noting the proposed text conflicts with municipal authority by including barking dogs in the law addressing dangerous dogs, and submitted suggested changes. It was voted ought not to pass on April 8.
Maryland
HB 89/SB 52 establishes that each animal harmed is a separate offense and that a conviction for a crime relating to animals may not merge with a conviction for any other crime for sentencing purposes. AKC GR successfully worked in previous sessions to ensure responsible and humane activities were not included. These bills specifically exempted training, and no language was included that would punish responsible owners. The bills were signed by the governor.
Montana
SB 300 increases protections for service dogs and their handlers. AKC submitted letters of support for this bill, which was signed by the governor.
Nevada
AB 487A would have banned the sale of companion animals from pet stores. As originally proposed, the bill also would’ve prohibited the transfer of prearranged sales of dogs by responsible breeders. After working with the members of the Legislature, issuing alerts, and testifying in committee hearings, AKC was able to secure an amendment to protect the activities of responsible breeders. However, due to differences in the bills passed by the Assembly and the Senate, the bill missed a legislative deadline and did not advance this year.
New Hampshire
HB 153 requires that two or more law enforcement officers in each county receive training regarding animal cruelty. The House Environment and Agriculture Committee passed an amendment that would establish a committee to study adding a statewide resource to assist with the investigation, training, prosecution, and prompt response of animal cruelty. It was adopted and the amended bill voted ought to pass. On March 6, the House waived a Finance Committee referral and the Senate referred it to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. AKC submitted testimony in support at a hearing on March 18, and the committee voted unanimously it ought to pass. The Senate voted it to third reading on March 27 and then enrolled on April 30. The Governor signed it into law on May 8.
HB 593 would have expanded the scope of “loss of consortium” claims to include pets, allowing individuals to seek damages for the loss of love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, protection, affection, society, and moral support of a pet. AKC testified in the House Judiciary Committee and issued an alert in opposition. It was voted inexpedient to legislate at the close of the hearing.
HB 240 would have removed the penalty for non-payment of dog licenses. AKC testified in opposition because compliance with rabies vaccination requirements is enforced by dog licensure. A subcommittee has proposed clarification that a town “may” issue an animal forfeiture warrant to someone not in compliance to allow additional time for compliance. AKC is now neutral on the bill, which was voted ought to pass by the committee on March 19.
SB 290 would have broadened the crime of animal cruelty without exception for current lawful animal activities. AKC testified and issued an alert in opposition. The bill did not ultimately advance.
New Jersey
S.3814 sought to require state licensing for all trainers and establish one training philosophy for the state. This would include not just professional training facilities, but CGC, handling, agility, and basic obedience classes AKC GR, along with several dog trainers and club members, provided testimony before the Senate Economic Growth Committee. As a result of the testimony, the sponsor has decided to put a hold on the bill. AKC GR will continue to monitor the bill.
New York
Senate Bill 364/Assembly Bill 893 supported by AKC prohibits insurance companies from canceling or denying policies or raising insurance rates on renter’s insurance based solely on the breed of dog the policyholder chooses to own. State law already provides this protection for homeowner’s insurance. AKC believes that providing similar protections to renters will further protect the rights of responsible dog owners, while still holding all dog owners accountable, regardless of the breed they choose to own. AKC issued alerts and submitted written statements of support for this legislation, which passed both chambers and awaits transmission to the governor’s office.
Senate Bill 3026/Assembly Bill 8551 sought to ban the practice known as “debarking” or “bark softening”. S. 3026 passed the Senate but both bills were ultimately held in the Assembly. AKC opposed the portion of the legislation that restricted the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, safe decisions for their pets in conjunction with veterinarians. AKC supported the provision that banned non-veterinarians from performing these procedures.
A. 8653/S. 8252 included some clarifying language to address the ban on dog and cat sales in pet stores, which will go into effect in December 2025. However, the bills would also require anyone who breeds and sells/offers to sell nine animals born and raised on a residential premises to be licensed and regulated as commercial pet dealers. All references in current law to activity within a year are stricken, so it could apply to those who breed/sell 9 dogs total in a lifetime. AKC and the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State worked in opposition to these bills, which were ultimately held and did not advance.
Rhode Island
HB 5926: This bill would allow pet owners to seek noneconomic damages—such as for companionship, love, and affection—when their pet is seriously injured or killed due to another person’s unlawful or negligent actions, under specific circumstances. It sets minimum compensation at $500 for serious injury and $750 for death, with a $7,500 maximum. The AKC opposed the bill due to concerns about unintended consequences and testified against it on March 4. The bill did not advance.
SB 551 would have allowed animal control officers to seize animals based on observed neglect, with a 48-hour notice and expedited hearings for permanent rehoming. AKC opposed the bill and testified on April 10. After discussions, SB 550 substitute A was advanced instead, aligning procedures with existing RISPCA standards. A companion bill, HB 6407, was introduced June 11. Neither bill advanced before adjournment.
SB 550 aimed to update penalties for animal-related violations, create an animal care taskforce, and criminalize dog breeders who intentionally overfeed for appearance to the dog’s detriment. AKC testified in opposition on April 10 and met with the sponsor. A revised version, SB 550 substitute A, was adopted on June 2. HB 6407 was introduced as the House version on June 11. Neither bill advanced.
SB 325 revises the hobby breeder definition, reducing the threshold to over two litters of dogs or cats in any 365-day period. AKC expressed concerns and issued an alert for the March 19 hearing. After committee approval, a floor amendment addressed AKC’s concerns. A House version, HB 6383, was introduced June 3, and on June 16, the committee adopted the amended Senate text. Both versions passed and were sent to the Governor.
Texas
House Bill 1346, House Bill 2806, and Senate Bill 155 were identical bills that would have expanded the definition of a dangerous dog to include cases where an owner, through criminal negligence, failed to secure their dog, resulting in an unprovoked attack causing bodily injury. The definition of bodily injury was overly broad and could have led to confusion between normal dog behavior and truly dangerous conduct. HB 2806 was ultimately substituted to remove the problematic definition. All three bills failed when the legislature adjourned on June 2. The AKC met with bill sponsors to urge amended language, submitted written testimony throughout the committee process in opposition, and drafted several alerts urging opposition, which proved successful in stopping the bills.
House Bill 349, which would have limited civil liability for people who break into vehicles to rescue individuals or animals, passed the Texas House but died in the Senate. The AKC opposed the bill, arguing it could lead to unnecessary removal of dogs not in danger and offered no recourse for owners. The AKC submitted written testimony and issued multiple alerts, ultimately helping defeat the bill.
House Bill 3777 originally required sterilization of dogs found at large twice in their lifetime. The AKC worked with the bill sponsor to revise the bill so sterilization would only be required after a third at-large offense within a calendar year and to strengthen exemptions for service dogs, working dogs, and dog sport participants. The bill did not receive a hearing and failed, but thanks to these changes, the AKC no longer opposed the bill.
House Bill 4777 would have allowed people to seek damages for bystander distress, mental anguish, and loss of companionship after the death of a companion animal. The AKC opposed the bill, expressing concerns that increased liability could raise animal care costs and potentially affect the legal status of animals. The AKC distributed multiple alerts opposing the bill and joined the Texas Veterinary Medical Association in testifying in person against the bill, which ultimately died in committee without a vote.
House Bill 3458 and Senate Bill 1652 would have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats in Texas pet stores, but both failed to pass in either chamber. The AKC opposed these retail pet sales bans because they restrict consumer choice and do not effectively address concerns about irresponsible breeding. The AKC advocates for responsible dog ownership and believes such bans could negatively impact reputable breeders and pet owners. The AKC submitted written testimony in opposition to both bills, met with members of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee and the House Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee, and distributed multiple alerts and letters urging opposition.
Senate Bill 2801 exempts individual participants in squirrel or furbearing animal field trials from the Texas hunting license requirement. This change, supported by the AKC, is expected to encourage more field trials and increase participation, especially from those traveling from out of state, by eliminating significant barriers to entry. The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supported SB 2801, believing it may help grow the sport and make it more accessible in Texas. The governor signed the bill in June 2025 and it takes immediate effect.
Washington
HB 1716 sought to restrict dog breeding in the state, reducing the number of dogs one can own and imposing stricter care standards, with violations classified as gross misdemeanors. AKC opposed the bill and met with members to express concerns. The bill did not advance.
West Virginia
HB 3130 seeks to provide increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals in the care of animal shelters and private individuals. The sponsor of the bill has included AKC GR-recommended language regarding extreme weather conditions. As written, it provides protections based upon the breed, age, general health of the dog, and its ability to handle the environment. The bill was referred to the House Government Organization Committee on March 4, 2025.