Legislative Alerts

The end of June brought Oregon’s 2025 legislative session to a close, joining Washington state in adjourning for the year.  While both states had fairly limited legislative activity concerning dogs and dog owners, both did see bills introduced that sought to regulate dog breeders. For your reference, below are a few of the significant bills […]

Last year the Los Angeles Times published a multi-year investigation into fraudulent business practices in the importation of dogs into the state for resale. In response, three bills were introduced in the state Legislature that seek to address the issues addressed in the article. The following is the latest status on the package of bills […]

The end of June brought with it the closure of Oregon’s 2025 legislative session. A bill that the American Kennel Club (AKC) has tracked closely, SB 1076, did not advance to the finish line. In fact, it did not make it out of the chamber in which it was introduced. SB 1076 would have directed […]

As the first half of Delaware’s 153rd General Assembly ended, the House approved a bill that eliminates the sunset provision for compensatory damages for injured pets in certain circumstances.  A bill to restrict pet sales and consumer choice did not come before the House for a vote. With the passage of Senate Bill 118, pet […]

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 2801, which exempts individual participants in squirrel or furbearing animal field trials from the Texas hunting license requirement.  Under this new law, which takes effect immediately, only the field trial organizer is required to purchase a field trial permit that covers all participants, removing the need for […]

Yesterday, the Massachusetts House and Senate adopted for the first time since 2019 major structural adjustments to how the House and Senate will work together. The new rules reshape legislative timelines, the flow of bills through committees and what information is publicly available. Below is a summary of the rules package changes detailed in S. […]

Amended LD 1771, which requires “hobby kennels” to obtain a state license under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) authority to regulate commercial “animal care facilities”, has become law without Governor Mills’ signature. Public Law Chapter 414 becomes effective Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly endorses the right to […]

Summary: On Tuesday, June 24, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors advanced a proposal that will significantly overhaul the county’s animal ordinance code. The ordinance includes new breeding permitting requirements for breeding as few as one dog.  It is unclear if this applies solely to breeding females, or if it applies to stud dogs as […]

The Missouri Department of Conservation (Department) is proposing to amend its regulations of Chapter 9 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri, including minimal increases in permit fees. Under current regulations, it costs $22 to get either the field trial permit (for those who conduct field trials on lands that are not owned or leased by […]

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the Rhode Island Legislature adjourned the legislative session without passing bills harmful to dog owners. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is very grateful to clubs’ legislative liaisons and members who responded to requests for action. H5926 – NON-ECONOMIC DAMAGES/PET LEGAL STATUS – DID NOT ADVANCE. Allowing compensation for the loss […]