Friday, April 17, 2026
South Carolina Senate Bill 720, the South Carolina Humane Dog Breeding Act, has been scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
SB 720 seeks to establish state oversight of professional dog breeders, which the bill defines as a person who possesses ten or more intact adult female dogs for breeding and sale, or who sells more than fifteen puppies or more than two litters in a calendar year, with certain exemptions for working and sporting dogs. As introduced, the bill would also:
- Require professional dog breeders to obtain a license from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and comply with inspection requirements.
- Establish care and housing standards for licensed professional dog breeders, including requirements related to food, water, sanitation, exercise, veterinary care, and breeding practices.
- Require detailed recordkeeping for each dog kept, including breeding history, veterinary care, and transfer information, with records to be maintained for at least five years.
- Create consumer disclosure requirements at the time of sale, including health history, veterinary treatment, and breeder policies.
- Establish penalties for violations, including potential civil fines, criminal penalties, and authority for enforcement actions.
SB 720 is scheduled to be considered by a subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. South Carolina residents concerned with the legislation are encouraged to share concerns with subcommittee members.
Sen. Thomas “Tom” Corbin, Subcommittee Chair – TomCorbin@scsenate.gov
Sen. Tom Young, Jr.- TomYoung@scsenate.gov
Sen. Josh Kimbrell – JoshKimbrell@scsenate.gov
Sen. Ed Sutton – EdSutton@scsenate.gov
Sen. Jeff Zell – JeffZell@scsenate.gov
Concerned residents are also encouraged to attend the hearing and testify in person. The subcommittee hearing is scheduled to begin at 10AM in Room 207 of the Gressette Building, 1101 Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) will continue to monitor S. 720 and will provide updates as the bill progresses. For more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.