Legislative Alerts

Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 18), a bill that establishes a licensing framework for all breeders who sell even one dog as a pet, will be heard by an Oregon state Senate committee.  Oregon breeders should express their opposition immediately and, if possible, speak at the hearing in opposition to Senate Bill 1076. What You Can Do: […]

A West Virginia House subcommittee has advanced two pieces of legislation regarding the care of dogs.  The first would provide increased protections for the welfare of domestic animals in the care of animal shelters and private individuals.  The second would specify minimum levels of care to be provided by commercial dog breeders and consumer protection […]

Next week is the deadline for House bills in Illinois to get an initial committee hearing, and there are several critical bills for dog owners still pending.  It is important for dog owners and clubs to register your opposition online today on key measures pending in two committees: House Agriculture and Conservation Committee: HB 1902 […]

Yesterday, the Missouri House Committee on Rules- Legislative voted 7-1 in favor a bill, that would make several changes to protect dogs and the rights of dog owners when animals are seized on suspicion of neglect or abuse.  The purpose of the bill is to protect the rights of the accused and ensure they are […]

On Tuesday, March 18, a New York Senate committee will consider legislation to ban “debarking” – a standard veterinary practice also known as bark softening – unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. The AKC opposes the portion of Senate Bill 3026 which would restrict the rights of […]

The Maryland House of Delegates and State Senate have each passed a bill this week to increase the cap on compensatory damages for which a person who tortiously causes an injury to or death of a pet is liable. Summary: Under current law, a person who causes the death of a pet could be held […]

PROHIBITING INSURANCE DOG BREED DISCRIMINATION ADVANCES: On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, despite opposition from the insurance industry, the Connecticut (CT) Joint Committee on Insurance and Real Estate approved a new draft of SB 1386, “Concerning Dog Breed in Insurance Underwriting and Evaluating the Feasibility of Establishing a Penalty for Misrepresenting a Dog as a Service […]

Yesterday, the Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill regulating the sale and transfer of dogs on public property.  The bill contains amendments requested by the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs (CFDC) to ensure no unintended consequences for those competing in events. The bill as amended now goes to the Senate for further consideration. Summary: […]

Texas House Bill 349 seeks to offer liability protections for individuals who remove a domestic animal from a motor vehicle if the person has a good faith and reasonable belief that such removal is necessary to avoid imminent harm to the animal.  It is scheduled to be considered in committee on Wednesday, March 12. The […]

The hearing on Assembly Bill 4051 scheduled for Thursday, March 6, before the New Jersey Assembly Commerce, Economic Development, and Agriculture Committee was cancelled. No further details about the future status of the legislation, which seeks to repeal the state’s consumer protection laws for pet purchasers and implement a statewide ban on the sale of […]