Legislative Alerts

Tomorrow (Wednesday, January 20), the Virginia House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Agriculture Sub-Committee will be considering House Bill 2109, which seeks to expands the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services by adding as an at-large member an expert in companion animal welfare who is employed by a releasing agency in the Commonwealth. The […]

On Thursday, January 21, the Wyoming Senate Agriculture Committee is considering two bills that address the issue of animals being seized, and the payment of their care during impoundment.  This includes Senate File 24, which could cause someone to permanently lose their animals even if they are ultimately found not guilty. AKC strongly believes that […]

New Jersey Senate Bill 975 seeks to establish animal trunk fighting as an animal cruelty offense.  The bill, which has already been approved by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Thursday, January 21.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports S.975, and encourages […]

The Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday, January 15, 2021, on House Bill 293, and the Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday, January 21, 2021, on Senate Bill 200.  These identical bills seek to prohibit contests where […]

Today, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission accepted the modification of State Senator Lucio to “sever” the Commission Staff’s recommendation that the Licensed Breeders Program be eliminated.  The modification was then adopted as part of the entire package of changes to programs administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  In effect, the Licensed Breeder […]

The Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday, January 15, 2021, on House Bill 81, and the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, on Senate Bill 122.  These identical bills place limitations on dogs being outdoors and unattended when […]

Tomorrow  (Wednesday, January 13), the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee will be considering Senate Bill 1, which provides certain liability protections when there has been exposure to the COVID-19 virus. This new law may be of potential interest to some AKC-affiliated clubs with concerns about conducting their events while under a higher-than-normal exposure to liability risks. […]

On Wednesday, January 13, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is expected to take action on its staff’s recommendation that the state’s Licensed Breeders Program be eliminated due to its ineffectiveness, inefficiencies, and costliness.  Eliminating the licensed Breeders Program is among a series of recommendations for programs administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation […]

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the posting of its fiscal year 2020 summary enforcement data.  This data summarizes enforcement efforts on animal welfare from APHIS’ Investigative and Enforcement Services division, which investigates alleged violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and its regulations. The Fiscal Year […]