Legislative Alerts

The Ohio House Public Safety Committee is holding public hearings on a significant rewrite of the state’s dangerous dog laws. House Bill 247 was introduced in response to several tragic incidents in the state and a demand from the public as well as animal control and law enforcement to strengthen Ohio’s dangerous dog laws.  Concerns […]

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government (JCMRG) has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 1PM to 5PM, on multiple animal bills, including some opposed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). OPPOSE: UPDATING ANIMAL HEALTH INSPECTIONS HB 2253 and SB 1458 are mirror bills that would remove Massachusetts’ legal […]

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 […]

Amended LD 1771, which would categorize “hobby kennels” as commercial “animal care facilities”, was fast tracked and passed the Maine Senate yesterday. Last month, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Committee) accepted testimony on LD 1771. Thanks to the Maine dog owners who expressed opposition to the bill, the committee adopted an […]

Yesterday, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Senate voted amended S. 1386, concerning dog breed insurance underwriting and service dogs, favorably.  Amended S. 1386 was immediately transferred to the House and placed on its calendar for a vote.  Connecticut residents are strongly encouraged to contact your state Representative with your strong support. As noted in the American […]

This week, the Rhode Island (RI) Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture voted to recommend passage of S. 325, “Animal Care”, which would further restrict the state’s definition of who is a “hobby breeder”.  On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, S. 325 will be voted upon in the Senate - without any changes to address concerns […]

With just a few days before the end of the New York legislative session, bills have been filed in both the NY State Assembly and Senate that could force virtually every hobby breeder in the state to be licensed, inspected and regulated as pet dealers. The bills include some clarifying language to address the ban […]

As the 89th Texas Regular Session draws to a close, the legislative landscape for dog owners has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. With several crucial deadlines now behind us, the majority of pending bills, including many impacting dogs and their owners, are officially off the table for this session. Yesterday marked the last opportunity for […]

Recently, your U.S. Senator John Kennedy introduced a bill that would radically expand and shift federal regulations while undermining expert care and oversight for dog breeding.  Your U.S. Senators, need to hear your opposition to this bill. Senate Bill 1538,  the so-called “Better CARE for Animals Act” shifts enforcement of dog breeder licensing under the […]

The Nevada State Senate recently amended Assembly Bill 487, which would have impacted the sale of pets and consumer protection in the state.  The bill has been amended to instead conduct an interim study relating to the sale of cats and dogs by retail pet stores in Nevada. Previously, the bill sought to ban pet […]