Legislative Alerts

Yesterday, the American Kennel Club (AKC) reported that two bills are scheduled for consideration in the Minnesota House of Representatives that seek to protect the rights of tenants who own dogs.  Now, two Senate companion bills have also been scheduled for committee consideration later this week: Senate File 371 seeks to prohibit certain housing developments […]

Yesterday, the Indiana Senate Agriculture Committee passed a bill that establishes strong consumer protection laws for pet stores.  As introduced, this bill also contained new, troubling definitions of “hobby breeder” and “casual breeder”.  However, these definitions were removed by the committee. AKC thanks the Indiana Purebred Dog Alliance and local clubs and breeders who contacted […]

The American Kennel Club has learned that New Jersey Senate Bill 1803, which seeks to prohibit declawing procedures from being performed on cats and other animals unless deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian, has been moved to the Senate Economic Growth Committee.  Please see updated committee contact information below. The American […]

AKC continues to monitor several bills impacting dog owners in Washington state. Below are the latest updates, along with contact information if you wish to comment on any of these measures. AKC GR will continue to provide individual updates and alerts when necessary.  Bills in Washington state Legislature: House Bill 1012 – Addressing the response […]

Two Minnesota bills that seek to protect the rights of tenants who own dogs will be heard by the House Finance and Policy Committee on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.  House File 758 seeks to prohibit landlords from encouraging or requiring tenants to declaw or devocalize an animal; while, among other provisions, House File 831 would […]

On Thursday, February 16, 2023, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee will accept public testimony on HB 6635, concerning dog breed insurance underwriting.  The bill would prohibit homeowners' insurance and renters' insurance policies from discriminating based on harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of breeds.  If enacted, […]

Today, the Oklahoma Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs unanimously passed Senate Bill 349, which makes positive changes to breeder reporting requirements. The bill repeals a section of the Commercial Pet Breeder’s and Animal Shelter Licensing Act that requires commercial breeders to file a yearly report with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and […]

On Tuesday, February 14, a Montana Senate committee will consider a bill that would modify the laws regarding bird dog training.  Montana residents who wish to comment on this expansion of existing law can do so with the information found below. Summary: Under current Montana law, training of bird hunting dogs is allowed under the […]

Summary: An Oregon state House committee has scheduled a hearing for February 13 to consider House Bill 2915. This proposed bill would end the sale of all dogs and cats at pet stores with exemptions for existing pet stores. The proposed legislation also allows for cities to enact even more stringent laws that would restrict […]

House Bill 239 requires the New Mexico Animal Sheltering Committee to develop and maintain a searchable website to help animal owners search for their lost pets. The bill also requires the committee to assist counties in securing funding for low cost spay and neuter programs and further regulates euthanasia at animal shelters. A hearing will […]