Today, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) announced the final adoption of amendments to the state’s rules for its Licensed Breeders Program. The changes were required by Senate Bill 1531, which was enacted in 2019 and added pleas of “no contest” to animal cruelty charges as a ground for denying or refusing to renew a breeder license. The amendments ensure that the Licensed Breeder Program rules comply with the 2019 law, and make housekeeping updates.
The American Kennel Club (AKC), which found no concerning issues with it, provided information on this rule proposal in October 2020. TDLR provided a one-month public comment period on the proposed change. Only one comment was received by TDLR, which was in support of the change. The rule will become effective on February 14, 2021.
For more information on this rule change, contact TDLR at (512) 475-4879. For more information on this rule or pending Texas legislation, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.