The Senate Committee on Regulated Industries is scheduled to hear Senate Bill 994 tomorrow, January 11, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.
Among numerous other provisions, SB 994 seeks to require licensure and regulation of pet stores by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, limit the sources from which retail pet stores may acquire pets, and prohibit county and municipal ordinances and regulations from prohibiting or regulating the breeding, purchase, or sale of hunting dogs, field trial dogs, sporting dogs, or cattle dogs. It also would establish additional requirements for shelters and rescue organizations.
Dog sales are currently regulated under Florida Statutes, Chapter 828 Animals: Cruelty; Sales; Animal Enterprise Protection. Accordingly, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is working with other stakeholders to ensure that SB 994 clearly and specifically exempts from regulation by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation the sale of dogs by a breeder who sells or transfers, directly to the public, dogs bred and raised on the breeder’s premises. Further, AKC supports amendments that would specifically exempt the breeding, purchase, and sale of dogs bred, trained, and sold for purposes in addition to use as hunting dogs, field trial dogs, sporting dogs, or cattle dogs as provided in the bill as introduced.
Click here to learn more about why this issue is important.
AKC Government Relations will continue to monitor this legislation and provide additional updates should the bill advance.
What You Can Do:
If you have questions, concerns, or recommendations regarding SB 994, please contact members of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee:
Chair: Senator Travis Hutson
(850) 487-5007
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S7 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Vice Chair: Senator Lauren Book
(850) 487-5032
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S32 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Ben Albritton
(850) 487-5026
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S26 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Joe Gruters
(850) 487-5023
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S23 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Ed Hooper
(850) 487-5016
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S16 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Kathleen Passidomo
(850) 487-5028
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S28 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Ray Wesley Rodrigues
(850) 487-5027
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S27 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson
850) 487-5019
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S19 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
Senator Linda Stewart
(850) 487-5013
Click on https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S13 and then select “Email this Senator” to send message.
For additional information, please contact doglaw@akc.org or call 919-816-3720.