Legislative Alerts

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee will accept public testimony on a list of bills, including SB 339, which requires restitution by anyone that injures or kills a police K-9 or volunteer search and rescue dog.  Current law makes anyone intentionally injuring one of these dogs while […]

Minnesota House File 4215 seeks to fund a program that would provide grants to nonprofit organizations that train and place therapy dogs in state and local law enforcement agencies located in Minnesota to aid in treating peace officers suffering from job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist in responding to calls involving persons […]

A Michigan Senate committee has advanced two bills (Senate Bills 657 and 658) that address the issue of animals being seized on cruelty charges, and the payment of their care during impoundment.  These bills, like legislation introduced in the previous session, could cause a person accused of cruelty to permanently forfeit their animals even if […]

Dog breeders in New Hampshire are being targeted by legislation that seeks to make them criminals. The legislation is scheduled for a committee hearing on Tuesday, March 5. Responsible dog breeders and owners across the country are needed to join the fight to defend the rights and reputations of purebred dog breeders and to respectfully […]

On Tuesday, March 5, at 1PM, the New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider HB 1102, “Defining Animal Cruelty,” in a public hearing.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the New Hampshire Dogs Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) are in strong opposition to HB 1102, which describes brachycephaly as […]

UPDATE:  South Carolina House Bill 4611 was reported favorably by the House Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environmental Affairs Committee on February 28, 2024. This bill seeks to make it an offense for a person to intentionally remove or destroy an electronic collar or other electronic device that was placed on a dog by its owner. […]

Yesterday, the Utah House of Representatives passed a substitute version of a bill that would have regulated breeders in the state.  The latest version now only regulates rescues and shelters, and no longer impacts breeders at all. As passed by the House of Representatives, House Bill 478 would place regulations on shelters and rescues, including […]

The California legislative session has begun, and AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) is tracking several bills of interest to dog owners.  We also are closely watching for any amendments or other actions, as animal activists have made public comments indicating their desire to regulate breeders. Be sure to be checking the AKC Legislative Action Center […]

On Monday, February 26, a bill that would protect owners and pets during extreme weather situations cleared another hurdle after being voted out of the state Senate Ways and Means Committee. As the bill has already passed the House of Representatives, the last remaining action in the Legislature is a vote by the whole state […]

On Friday, the Utah House Business and Labor Committee passed a bill regulating breeders that contains many amendments requested by the AKC in the 2023 session.  House Bill 478 will soon be considered by the full House of Representatives. Those who wish to comment on HB 478 are encouraged to contact their State Representative.  Visit […]