A pivotal point has been reached in the California Legislature session. The deadline has passed for bills that were subject to a fiscal committee review to be eligible for further advancement during the session. This year was especially challenging for bills that increased spending given the state’s sizeable budget deficit.
We are pleased to report that Assembly Bill 1482, which could have regulated hobbyists, will not advance this year. Also, Assembly Bill 1502 regarding the California Veterinary Medical Board continues to move forward. To date, the current “owner exemption” that allows owners to provide certain basic care to their dogs remains protected. AKC thanks the club members that joined us in contacting lawmakers– your actions made a difference!
Below are updates of key bills the American Kennel Club (AKC) has been tracking. AKC will continue to monitor the California Legislature for any new developments or changes to bills that could impact you.
Status of AKC Key Bills of Interest:
- Assembly Bill 1482 – Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding.
Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee; will not advance this year.
Summary: This bill, opposed by AKC, would in part have changed the definition of a dog breeder in California from someone who breeds three litters or transfers 20 dogs to someone who transfers two litters or 10 dogs. AKC thanks the clubs who took the time to reach out to express concerns on this bill.
- Assembly Bill 1502 – Veterinary medicine: California Veterinary Medical Board
Status: Passed the Assembly on June 2 and will now go to the Senate.
Summary: Currently, animal owners in California can perform certain functions on their animals such as giving vaccines or basic wound care under what’s known as the “owner exemption”—allowable under current regulations from the California Veterinary Medical Board (CMVB).
This policy (and others affecting veterinarians) was considered by the California Legislature as a part of their bigger “sunset review” of various regulations of the CVMB. AKC and local clubs reached out to lawmakers and have been successful to date in ensuring that the CVMB will continue to allow the owner exemption to remain part of the regulations. We will continue to closely monitor this bill for any changes.
- Assembly Bill 506 – Pets: sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Status: Bill is before the full state Assembly (June 6 deadline for passage).
Summary: AB 506 expands consumer protection rights for pet buyers in the state. AKC has worked extensively on the bill with stakeholders to expand consumer protection provisions so that all sellers- including breeders and rescues – will be required to provide certain information regarding the dog’s health and background at the time of sale.
Status of Other AKC-Supported Bills:
- Senate Bill 221 – Crimes: stalking
Status: Bill is before the full state Senate (June 6 deadline for passage).
Summary: This bill seeks to expand what constitutes stalking to include behavior that seeks to harm or threaten a domestic violence victim’s pets, service animals, or emotional support animals. This bill would bring California in line with the federal stalking statute.
- Assembly Bill 631 – Animals: animal shelters: transparency.
Status: Unanimously passed the state Assembly; Before the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for consideration.
Summary: This bill requires California animal shelters to collect, regularly update, and publicly share detailed intake and outcome data for all animals, increasing transparency and accountability in shelter operations.
- Assembly Bill 400 – Law enforcement: police canines.
Status: Bill is before the full state Assembly (June 6 deadline for passage).
Summary: This bill mandates that by January 1, 2027, all California law enforcement agencies with canine units must adopt policies compliant with the latest Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) standards.
- Assembly Bill 478 – Accessibility to emergency information and services: evacuations: pets.
Status: Bill is before the full state Assembly (June 6 deadline for passage).
Summary: AB 478 requires California cities and counties to update emergency plans to include pet rescue procedures during evacuations, ensure public access to related information, and protect rescued pets from adoption or euthanasia for 90 days.
Status of Other AKC Tracked bills:
- Assembly Bill 867 – Veterinary medicine: cat declawing.
Status: Unanimously passed the state Assembly; Before the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for consideration.
Summary: AB 867 as introduced restricted declawing procedures – including the removal of dewclaws—to licensed veterinarians for “therapeutic purposes” only, requiring documentation and allowing for disciplinary actions against violators. At the request of AKC, the bill was amended in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee to ensure the bill would solely apply to cat declawing and would not prevent dog dewclaw removal.
- Assembly Bill 793 – Potentially dangerous and vicious dogs
Status: Unanimously passed the state Assembly; Referred to the Senate Judiciary and Senate Appropriations Committee.
Summary: AB 793 revises the criteria for designating dogs as dangerous or vicious, requiring clear evidence and uniform standards across California, while prohibiting such designations if the dog was provoked or defending against an attack.
- Assembly Bill 516 – Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants: scope of practice.
Status: Unanimously passed the state Assembly; Before the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for consideration.
Summary: The bill clarifies the roles of veterinary technicians and assistants, allowing them to perform more health care services under supervision, including dental procedures and euthanasia, and broadens the settings in which they can operate.
- Senate Bill 312 – Dog importation: health certificates.
Status: Unanimously passed the state Senate; Ordered to the state Assembly.
Summary: This bill mandates health certificates for dogs imported for resale, shifts submission to the state Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires public access to these records, while redacting certain specific identifying information from immediate public access.
- Assembly Bill 519 – Pet broker sales.
Status: Unanimously passed the state Assembly; Before the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee for consideration.
Summary: AB 519 prohibits brokers (not breeders) from selling or facilitating the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits, defining brokers as those who profit from such transactions (with exceptions for service and police dogs). AKC believes that AB 506 is a better solution, which does not prohibit certain sellers, but instead expands consumer protection.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.