There are 37 days remaining in the 89th Texas Legislative Session, and several dog bills are under consideration. Below are status updates for bills the AKC continues to track this session:
House Bill 2806- Dangerous Dogs
Status: Hearing on Monday, April 28 at 8:00am in the House Public Health Committee. The hearing will be held in Room E2.030.
Summary: HB 2806 expands the definition of a dog dangerous to include bodily injury. If a dog is deemed dangerous and causes bodily injury it would be a class B misdemeanor. AKC is concerned with the definition of bodily injury because of its broad use of the term physical pain. We want to ensure that this bill only impacts dogs that are truly dangerous.
Concerned dog owners should contact members of the House Public Health Committee. You can find the committee contact information HERE.
House Bill 4777- Non-economic damages– (See Previous Alert)
Status: A hearing was held on Wednesday, April 23 in the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, and AKC joined the Texas Veterinary Medical Association in testifying in opposition. The bill remains pending in committee but could be voted on during future hearings.
Summary: HB 4777 would allow a person to sue for non-economic damages for bystander damages, mental anguish, and loss of companionship caused by death of a companion animal. The AKC is concerned that allowing non-economic damages for pets calls into question the legal status of pets as property. The legal concept that pets are personal property protects pet ownership and the rights of pet owners. A change in the legal status of animals could result in restricting the rights of owners, veterinarians, and government agencies to protect and care for dogs. Concerned dog owners should continue to express concerns to the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee. Committee contact information can be found HERE.
House Bill 349- Removing dogs from vehicles– (See Previous alert)
Status: Voted out of House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee on March 19 but has yet to receive a vote before the full Texas House.
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. The AKC is concerned that without additional limits, HB 349 could lead to unintended consequences. Concerned Texas residents are encouraged to contact their State Representative to express concerns.
House Bill 3458- Retail pet sales ban– (See Previous Alert)
Status: The bill was heard on April 9 in the Texas House Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee. The bill was left pending in committee but could be voted on during future hearings.
Summary: House Bill 3458 would impose a statewide ban on the retail sale of dogs at pet stores. The AKC is opposed to HB 3458 and encourages concerned dog owners to continue contacting the House Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee in opposition. Committee contact information can be found HERE.
Texas Senate Bill 2801- Supporting Field Trials– (See Previous alert)
Status: The bill was heard on April 22 in the Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs committee. The bill remains pending in committee but could be voted out at future hearings.
Summary: House Bill 2801 would allow for field trials for fur-bearing animals and squirrels to apply for single permit for an event and exempt individual participants from the hunting license requirement. The AKC supports HB 2801 and encourages dog owners to contact the Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee in support of the bill. Committee contact information can be found HERE.
For more information or for more updates on Texas legislation, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org .