The Virginia House Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee’s (ACNR) Agriculture Subcommittee is scheduled to consider two bills at its 4:00pm meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, January 26, 2022) that have the potential to impact some dog owners.
Those wishing to submit comments to the ACNR Agriculture Subcommittee may do so by Noon tomorrow, January 26, 2022 at this link or by directly contacting the members of the Agriculture subcommittee.
The subcommittee is expected to consider the following legislation:
- House Bill 467 (dog bites and attacks, civil liability)– This bill would amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 3.2-6540.05 that provides that the owner of a dog that bites a human being or otherwise attacks a human being causing bodily injury, may have civil liability regardless of whether the owner knew or should have known of the dog’s propensity for vicious, dangerous, or otherwise aggressive behavior.
- House Bill 1074 (rabies exemptions and titers)– This bill directs the Board of Health to develop an exemption to the rabies vaccination requirement for animals if a licensed veterinarian certifies that the vaccine would endanger the animal based on an underlying medical factor and a titer test indicates a sufficient level of immunity to rabies. If issued, the certification would be valid for a period of one year and serve as proof of vaccination.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor legislation in Virginia impacting dog owners. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.