Legislative Alerts

Recently, the 2023 Kansas legislative session adjourned. AKC analyzed several bills in Kansas to determine the impact on Kansas dog owners. AKC only opposed one bill during the session and the bill ultimately died in committee after just one hearing. House Bill 2437 Fails House Bill 2437 would have made several changes to the Kansas Pet […]

The American Kennel Club Government Relations team (AKC GR) is pleased to report that during the first year of Tennessee’s two-year 2023-2024 legislative session, bills to help protect dogs passed and certain problematic bills did not advance. AKC GR thanks dog owners, AKC club members, sportsmen, allied organizations, and every individual who contacted their lawmakers […]

On Wednesday, May 17, the Kern County Animal Services Commission are reconsidering a proposed ordinance that seeks to further the licensing burden on dog owners in Kern County, and could lead to mandatory spay/neuter for one violation of animal control laws. If advanced, the proposal would go to the Kern County Board of Supervisors for […]

The Washington Legislature has concluded its 2023 legislative session. AKC actively monitored and participated in numerous bills before the legislature this year. While the session is adjourned, we are seeing many local governments across the country considering proposals that would impact dog owners in their community.  We encourage Washington residents to watch local media and […]

This week, the Delaware General Assembly continued to advance legislation seeking to regulate barking dogs and provide immunity for animal cruelty reporting.  Below is the latest information, as well as action you can take today on these bills: House Bill 124 – Regulating Barking Dogs House Bill 124 would prohibit dogs from barking continuously for […]

This morning, the United States Supreme Court affirmed a decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld California’s 2018 voter initiative that imposed minimum space requirements for the confinement of breeding pigs that produce uncooked products to sell in the state. In the underlying case, National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, the petitioners, […]

The Nevada Senate Natural Resources Committee is considering Assembly Bill 86 in a hearing on May 16. The bill has already passed unanimously out of the state Assembly. AKC is asking for your help in supporting this reasonable cruelty bill that contains several AKC amendments as it makes its way through the state Senate. Summary: […]

Today, the Texas House of Representatives passed SB 876. The bill will now go to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk. The bill will require anyone that both owns 5 or more intact females and is engaged in the business of breeding those dogs for sale to secure a state license. It is vitally important that Governor […]

The New York Senate has passed a ban on “debarking” – a veterinary practice also known as bark softening. Senate Bill 142 would prohibit veterinarians from performing this procedure unless it is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. Senate Bill 142 has now been referred to the Assembly Agriculture Committee but […]

Florida dog owners breathed sighs of relief when the hard-fought 2023 Florida legislative session adjourned on Friday, May 5th. Several problematic bills did not advance, while positive bills passed in the state legislature and await action by the Governor. Possibly the most egregious state-level dog breeder bills (HB 1581/SB 1492) filed in the U.S. to […]