Legislative Alerts

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer has signed several animal-related bills approved by the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative session. The measures address retail pet store sales, animal cruelty penalties, and veterinary reporting requirements.   HB 131 – Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats HB 131 prohibits retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats in […]

Updated: Tuesday, August 18, 2026   Since first detected on June 3, 2026, 46 cases of New World Screwworm (NWS, or screwworm) have been detected in southwest Texas and New Mexico.  While the number of screwworm cases have remained low, the American Kennel Club continues to recommend that all dog owners, or anyone who works […]

The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to pass its Farm Bill in a markup on Thursday, August 6.  Chairman Boozman has recessed the committee and plans to hold another vote on the measure in September. AKC GR will continue to follow this measure and provide updates on provisions related to dogs.  The GR Team thanks the […]

It is likely the Senate Agriculture Committee will mark up the Agriculture Act of 2026 (“Farm Bill 2.0”) on Thursday, August 6, 2026.  We are asking you to reach out to your senators in support of the positive animal care provisions in Farm Bill 2.0 and ask that they oppose potential amendments pushed by animal […]

The Oregon Secretary of State announced that after the signature verification process, radical animal rights proposal IP 28 officially failed to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. All told, the proponents of IP 28 submitted 104,262 valid signatures against the 117,163 signatures that were needed to qualify the proposal for the November ballot.   This […]

The Delaware General Assembly has adjourned its 2026 legislative session after approving several bills that impact dog owners, breeders, pet sellers, shelters, rescue organizations, and veterinarians. AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) monitored these measures throughout session and worked to ensure that legislation affecting dogs and dog owners is reasonable, enforceable, and protects responsible dog ownership. […]

Animal rights activists continue to collect signatures in Oregon in advance of a July 2 deadline to qualify an extreme measure (currently referred to as Oregon Initiative Petition 28) for the November 2026 ballot that would ban hunting, criminalize dog breeding (including artificial insemination), end recognized training practices, and significantly harm agriculture. AKC Government Relations […]

The Senate Agriculture Committee will be marking up draft language pertaining to federal dog laws in the 2026 Senate Farm Bill later this month.  As introduced, the bill supports important priorities for dog enthusiasts and responsible breeders, including canine health, welfare and the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders.  As a constituent of an […]

Yesterday (June 16), the North Carolina Judiciary 1 Committee approved an amended bill regarding tethering and shelters for dogs which includes some positive amendments, but some concerns remain. Thanks to the messages received by many AKC club members, the bill expanded exemptions to include more dog events and training, and activities such as grooming and […]

Updated: Monday, July 20, 2026 Since first detected on June 3, 2026, 41 cases of New World Screwworm (NWS, hereinafter screwworm) have been detected in southwest Texas and New Mexico. NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, typically through an open wound, causing painful wounds, serious infection, and […]