Legislative Alerts

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 […]

SENATE UPDATE: Yesterday, the New Hampshire (NH) Senate approved Senator Pearl’s motion to lay  SB 290, “Relative to the Definition of Torture in Animal Abuse Cases,” on the table. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and New Hampshire Dog Owners of the Granite State (NH DOGS) are grateful for this disposition. Both organizations abhor animal cruelty […]

On Monday, March 10, 2025, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Judiciary will accept public testimony on SB 1446, which for dogs roaming unlawfully, would remove the violation being deemed as an infraction and allow the imposition of fines up to $350 for a first offense and up to $500 for a second offense. […]

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, starting at 1PM, the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is scheduled to accept public testimony on LD 528, An Act to Address the Rise in Rabies in Animals by Appointing Certified Rabies Vaccine Administrators. The bill would authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in consultation […]

Overreaching breeder regulation legislation has again been introduced in the Florida Legislature.  SB 1830  and HB 1481 seek to impose registration and inspections requirements on any dog owner of an intact female dog more than six months of age.  Similar to legislation first introduced in 2023, these bills are also part of an extensive anti-breeder […]

On Thursday, March 6, the New Jersey Assembly Commerce, Economic Development, and Agriculture Committee will consider Assembly Bill 4051, which seeks to repeal the state’s consumer protection laws for pet purchasers and implement a statewide ban on the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by pet shops.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages all concerned […]