Legislative Alerts

On Monday, March 21, 2022, the Maryland Senate passed Senate Bill 44  which regulates dogs outdoors and unattended in certain weather conditions and temperatures. The bill is schedule for a hearing before the House Environment and Transportation Committee at 1:00pm on Wednesday, March 30,2022.  Written comments will only be accepted on Monday, March 28.  Scroll […]

A bill recently amended in California would require kennels to have an emergency preparedness plan. Those who wish may use this link and follow the instructions to submit written comments to the author regarding Assembly Bill 1648. Summary: Current California code allows for cities or counties in the state to require a kennel license.  Under […]

After no action for almost 10 months,  Senate Bill 153, which would provide an animal a court advocate in cases involving the health, safety, or an injury of a dog or cat, is again on the move. The bill passed the Senate in 2021, and was just placed on the House Calendar where it can […]

On April 26, the California Assembly Business and Professions Committee is scheduled to consider Assembly Bill 1881, known as the “Dog and Cat Bill of Rights”. AKC staff and our representatives in California are working hard to communicate concerns with the author’s office, the committee,  and requesting significant amendments – but we need your help! […]

Update: Friday, March 25, 2022 Yesterday, the New Jersey Senate passed Senate Bill 981 without amendments.  The bill has already been assigned to the Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee. The American Kennel Club (AKC) remains opposed S.981 as currently worded, and continues to work to ensure that the bill’s lack of protections for co-owners […]

The Connecticut Joint Government Administration and Elections Committee has scheduled a Friday, March 25, 2022, public hearing for HB 5498.  The bill seeks to designate a variety of days, weeks, and months, for proclamations, including naming the shelter pet as Connecticut’s “state pet”. Acquiring a companion animal can be a rewarding process.  A number of […]

A radical animal rights ballot proposal in Oregon has been postponed until 2024.  This proposal would outlaw all hunting, criminalize artificial insemination, and have a significant impact on many other animal husbandry practices in the state. Background: In 2021, supporters began advocating for Initiative Petition 13, officially called the “Abuse, Neglect, and Assault Exemption Modification […]

Yesterday, the Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee voted to advance House Bill 485.  Minor committee amendments do not effectively address concerns about how this bill tramples the due process rights of innocent dog owners.  Read more about HB 485, as introduced. Dog Owners’ Concerns Are Acknowledged!  Primary bill sponsor Rep. Dickie Drake said today […]

On Monday, March 21, 2022, the Maryland Senate will give third and final consideration to the passage of Senate Bill 44 which regulates dogs outdoors and unattended in certain weather conditions and temperatures.  Its companion bill, House Bill 16, had previously passed the House and is now in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The AKC […]

A Kansas bill that would establish a new division within the Kansas Department of Agriculture tasked with inspecting pet animal facilities was heard today in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The bill was not voted on during the hearing, but proponent and opponent testimony was taken by the committee. The inspections under Senate […]