The House companion to Florida Senate Bill 1356, House Bill 1521, is now scheduled to be heard by the House Subcommittee on Industries and Professional Activities on February 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. This bill would require dog breeders to register with the state and establish new operational regulations. Florida residents are strongly encouraged to contact their state representatives to share their views on this proposal before the hearing.
HB 1521 proposes wide-ranging changes to animal regulation in Florida. The bill would:
- Mandate Florida’s dog breeders register with the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation every two years. (Under Florida law, those who own or possess breeding female dogs and offer for sale more than two litters of dogs per calendar year are considered “dog breeders” under the law.)
- Require the registration of dog breeding facilities (locations that are the site of a dog breeder which houses five or more breeding female dogs).
- Mandate the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department) to establish rules and best management practices for dog breeding, including rules on cage spacing, sanitation, access to clean water, breeding frequency, and shelter requirements.
- Require annual and complaint-based inspections of dog breeders by the Department.
- Provide for the creation of a whistleblower program that would allow any individual to report violations of the new dog breeder rules to either the Department or a private entity contracted to administer the whistleblower program. Complaints would not have to be substantiated or attested to.
- Impose new requirements on retail stores selling animals like those that SB 1004 seeks to impose.
- Preempt local oversight of animal shelters by shifting authority to the state.
While more reasonable than the extreme breeder bills filed in Florida in prior legislative sessions, HB 1521 remains problematic. The regulatory program created by HB 1521 would be large, and as currently worded does not provide sufficient funding to sustain it. Additionally, it includes vague enforcement provisions, lacks positive voluntary compliance provisions, and allows for anti-breeder organizations to manage a bounty program on breeders based on unsubstantiated complaints. AKC opposes HB 1521 as introduced and encourages amendments to address these concerns.
AKC supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who meet their responsibilities. Click here to learn more about reasonable dog breeder laws.
What You Can Do
HB 1521 is scheduled to be considered by the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow, Thursday, February 5th, at 9:30am. Concerned Floridians are encouraged to contact committee members to share their concerns with HB 1521.
State Representative Mike Giallombardo, Chair – Mike.Giallombardo@flhouse.gov
State Representative Juan Carlos Porras, Vice Chair – JuanCarlos.Porras@flhouse.gov
State Representative Bruce Antone, Ranking member – Bruce.Antone@flhouse.gov
State Representative Yvette Benarroch – Yvette.Benarroch@flhouse.gov
State Representative Nathan Boyles – Nathan.Boyles@flhouse.gov
State Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani – Anna.Eskamani@flhouse.gov
State Representative Richard Gentry – Richard.Gentry@flhouse.gov
State Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson – Yvonne.Hinson@flhouse.gov
State Representative Fiona McFarland – Fiona.McFarland@flhouse.gov
State Representative Monique Miller – Monique.Miller@flhouse.gov
State Representative Angie Nixon – Angie.Nixon@flhouse.gov
State Representative Vanessa Oliver – Vanessa.Oliver@flhouse.gov
State Representative Toby Overdorf – Toby.Overdorf@flhouse.gov
State Representative Leonard Spencer – Leonard.Spencer@Flhouse.gov
State Representative Judson Sapp – Judson.Sapp@Flhouse.gov
State Representative Susan Valdes – Susan.Valdes@Flhouse.gov
State Representative Brad Yeager – Brad.Yeager@Flhouse.gov
Concerned residents are also encouraged to attend the hearing in person. It will be held in
Room 214, House Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 at 9:30am.
For More Information, Contact…
The Florida Association of Kennel Clubs – Jseltrecht123@gmail.com.
AKC Government Relations – doglaw@akc.org.