current state animal agriculture legislation

Summary of Major

State Animal Agriculture Legislation

Click on state for information:

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

- Every state (except Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and

Oklahoma) has a Consolidated Cruelty Statute.

- Twenty-one states have laws concerning humane slaughter.

- Initiatives or referendums are allowed in 24 of 50 states.

- Measures highlighted in yellow are currently active.

Alabama

Law Title Animals Content Status

SB 104 All animals Amends existing statues for

unlicensed vet students

Signed into law on

4/21/10.

HB 561 Livestock

Prohibits local governments

from adopting rules and laws

regarding livestock on private

property

Signed into law on

4-27-10.

Arizona


A.R.S. 13-2910 Consolidated

Cruelty Statutes All animals

Cruelty to animals is considered

as a felony, exclusions: hunting,

agriculture

Last amended: 1999.

A.R.S. 3-312

Transporting equine

in a cruel manner;

violation,

Horses

A vehicle used to transport

equine for slaughter may have no

more than one tier

Statute revised:

2002.

UPDATED AUGUST 2012

classification,

definition

Proposition 204

Cruel and Inhumane

Confinement of

Animals

Pigs during

pregnancy,

calves

Prohibits confinement (lying

down and fully extending his or

her limbs, turning around freely)

Passed: 11/7/2006.

S.C.M. 1001

Equine Resources,

opposing federal

legislation

Horses

Urges U.S. Congress to oppose

federal legislation to ban the

slaughter of horses and transport

of horses for slaughter

First read: 1/29/2009

Second: 6/8/2009

Last amended:

2/16/2010.

HB 2612 Veterinarian

Regulations All animals

Makes changes to veterinary

practice act. Vet must report

abuse and vet records shall be

provided to local law

enforcement on request

Signed into law on

4-27-10.

HB 2499

Prescriptions,

Electronic

Submission by

Patient

All

Animals

Prescription orders can be placed

by e-mail, and fax

Signed into law on

4-19-10.

SB 1266

Juveniles;

Communication

Devices; Sexual

Material

All animals

In domestic orders of protection,

a court may grant the petitioner

the exclusive care, custody or

control of any animal that is

owned, possessed, leased, kept or

held by the petitioner, the

respondent or a minor child

residing in the residence or

household of the petitioner or the

respondent. The court may order

the respondent to stay away from

the animal and forbid the

respondent from taking,

transferring, encumbering,

concealing, committing an act of

cruelty or neglect, or otherwise

disposing of the animal.

Signed into law on

5-7-10.

Arkansas


Initiated Act 1 The Arkansas

Animal Cruelty Act All animals

Would have increased penalties

in cases of animal cruelty

2002 ballot initiative;

failed with only

37.8% of the vote.

AR H.C.R. 1004

Request for Arizona

congressional

delegation to

support horse

processing facilities

Horses

Statement that urges the U.S.

Congress to support new horse

processing facilities

Governor signed into

law 4/6/2009.

California


CA PENAL 597a Cruelty to animals;

transportation All animals

Considered as a misdemeanor to

carry or cause a domestic animal

to be carried in a vehicle in a

cruel or inhumane manner, or

authorizes or permits it to be

subjected to unnecessary torture,

suffering, or cruelty

Passed: 1905.

CA PENAL 597t Confined animals;

punishments All animals

An animal kept in an enclosed

area be provided with an

adequate exercise area, if the

animal is restricted by a leash,

rope, or chain, the leash, rope, or

chain shall be affixed in such a

manner that it will prevent the

animal from becoming entangled

or injured and permit the animal's

access to adequate shelter, food,

and water

Adopted: 1970

Amended: 1971.

Animal Cruelty Act

Consolidated

Cruelty Statutes

All animals,

cattle

included

Cruelty to animals is considered

as a felony

Passed: 1983.

CA PENAL 599f Nonambulatory

animals

Cattle,

swine,

sheep, goats

Prohibits a slaughterhouse,

stockyard, or auction to buy, sell,

or receive a non-ambulatory

animal. No slaughterhouse shall

sell meat from non-ambulatory

animals for human consumption

Adopted: 1994

Amended: 2008.

California Admin.

Code 1245. 1-16

California Poultry

Slaughter

Administrative

Regulations

All poultry,

exceptions:

spent hens,

small game

birds

Humane slaughter regulations-

transport, handling

Adopted: 1994

Amended: 1998

Amended: 2003.

Proposition 6

Prohibition of Horse

Slaughter and Sale

of Horsemeat for

Human

Consumption Act

Horses

Prohibits any person from

possessing, transferring,

receiving or holding and horse,

pony, burro or mule with intent

to kill or have killed for human

consumption

Passed: 1998.

California Health

and Safety Code,

Sections 25980-

25984

SB 1520

Foie Gras

regulations

Ducks,

geese

Prohibits the force feeding of a

bird the purpose of enlarging the

bird‟s liver beyond normal size.

Enacted: 2004

Effective: July 1,

2012.

CA PENAL 597.7

Animal confinement

in unattended motor

vehicle penalties

All animals

No person shall leave or confine

an animal in any unattended

motor vehicle under conditions

that endanger the health or well-

being of an animal

Adopted: 2006.

Proposition 2

The Prevention of

Farm Animal

Cruelty Act

Veal calves,

egg-laying

hens,

pregnant

pigs

Animals must be confined only

in ways that allow them to lie

down, stand up, fully extend their

limbs and turn around freely.

Exceptions are made for

transportation, rodeos, fairs, 4-H

programs, lawful slaughter,

research and veterinary purposes.

Passed: 2008

Effective: 1/1/2015.

CA S.B. 135 Ban on Tail Docking Cattle Prohibits tail docking tails on

cattle Passed: 9/3/2009.

CA A.B. 1437 Eggs from battery

cages Eggs

Prohibits the sale of a shelled egg

for human consumption from

hens not raised to CA

confinement standards

Signed into law:

7/6/2010.

S.B. 416

Pupil Nutrition,

Health, and

Achievement Act;

antibiotics

Poultry and

meat

products

Encourages school districts to

purchase meat products that are

free of non-therapeutic

antibiotics

Introduced:

2/26/2009

Inactive: 6/3/2009.

S.B. 562 Human food

product;

All

livestock

Beginning in 2011, all food

products from animals given

Introduced: 2/27/09

Amended: 6/17/09

nontherapeutic

antibiotics

antibiotics for non-therapeutic

use would have to be labeled

using a state-mandated local

program

Failed deadline.

Cruelty to animals;

transportation

(1905)

All

Animals

Considered as a misdemeanor for

anyone to carry, or cause a

domestic animal to be carried, in

a vehicle in a cruel or inhuman

manner, or authorizes or permits

it to be subjected to unnecessary

torture, suffering, or cruelty of

any kind.

SB1277

Animal Abuse;

registry; internet

publication

All

Animals

Would create a registry of

persons convicted of felony

animal abuse, to be available to

the public via an Internet Web

site, and funded through a tax on

pet food.

Introduced on

2/19/10. Held by

Senate

appropriations on

5/27/10. Suspended .

AB 1656 Fur labeling

Requires all fur products to be

labeled with a conspicuous tag

identifying which animals the fur

came from and the country of

origin

Vetoed by Governor

9/25/2010.

AB 2012 Cruelty to Animals All animals

Revises the punishment for

this offense to provide

that it is punishable by

imprisonment in a county jail

for not more

than one year, or in the state

prison, or by a fine of not

more than

$20,000, or by both that fine

and imprisonment.

Introduced 2/26/10

Vetoed by governor

9/30/10.

Colorado


Amendment 14

Regulation of

Commercial Hog

Facilities

Hogs in

large-scale

production

Regulation of housed

commercial swine feeding

operations which can house

800,000 or more pounds of swine

or which are deemed commercial

Passed: 1998.

Proposal 13 Uniform Living

Regulations

All

livestock

Sought to create uniform

livestock regulations based on

potential environmental impact

rather than the character of the

farm

Failed: 1998.

S.B. 201

35-50.5-101

Confinement of

calves raised for

veal and pregnant

sows

Calves,

pregnant

pigs

Regulation to phase out veal

crates and gestation stalls

Approved: 5/14/2008

Veal regulations

enacted: 1/1/2012

Gestating sow

regulations enacted

1/1/2018.

SB 80 Protection Orders

Pets Animals All animals

Allows a court to issue protection

restraining a party from harming

an animal owned, possessed,

leased, kept, or held by any other

Signed into law on

4/12/10, effective on

7/1/10 .

party, a minor child of any other

party, or an elderly or at risk

adult.

Connecticut


S.B. 123, H.B

5811, H.B. 5464

Battery

Cages/Confinement

Egg-laying

hens,

pregnant

pigs

Prohibits battery cages and

gestation crates

Introduced 2009

Died, session

adjourned.

HB 5545, SB 494

Establishes grant program for

five four-year grants per student

class for eligible state residents

enrolled in an accredited

veterinary graduate school.

Signed into law on

4/14/10, 5/7/10.

HB 5452

Volunteer Health

Care Services on a

Temporary Basis

All

Animals

Out-of-state volunteer health care

practitioners to provide health

care services in the state at a free

clinic or similar charitable

medical event providing free

health care services.

Signed into law on 5-

5-10, effective

7-1-10.

SB 397 Puppy Mills and

Sick Dogs Importing

Dogs Requires commissioner of ag to

submit a report to the joint

standing committee of the

General Assembly on the

adequacy of current law in

limiting the importation of sick

puppies, including an assessment

on limiting the number of dogs

imported from puppy mills and

informing the purchaser of a dog

from a pet shop licensee of the

possibility that a puppy mill bred

the dog.

Introduced on

3-4-10. public

hearing 3-12-10

Failed deadline,

considered dead

3/22/2010.

SB 274 Tethering

Dogs Requires min 100sqft enclosure

plus 50% for each additional

dog,. Tethered dog must have

food/water/shelter at all times

and be visible by owner. Outlaws

prong collars. Dogs must be able

to move 8ft in any direction

while tethered.

Passed 5/14/2010.

Federal Legislation


B18 71

Uniform Emergency

Volunteer Health

Practitioners Act of

2009

All animals

Enacts the Uniform

Emergency Volunteer Health

Practitioners Act to promote

the rapid deployment of

qualified volunteer health

practitioners during declared

emergencies.

Signed into law on

4-26-10.

B 18-521

Human and

Environmental Health

Protection Amendment

Act of 2009

Would prohibit use of

propoxur and permethrin in

flea and tick products

Introduced on

11-6-09 Hearing in

Comm. on Govt. Oper.

and Env.

on 1-20-10

Approved: 7/30/2010.

H.R. 965

S 1211

Preservation of

Antibiotics for Medical

Treatment Act of 2011

Requires Secretary of Health

and Human Services to deny

an application for a new

animal drug that is a critical

antimicrobial animal drug

unless the applicant

demonstrates that there is a

reasonably certainty of no

harm to human health due to

the development of

antimicrobial resistance

attributable to the

nontherapeutic use of the

drug.

Requires the Secretary to

withdraw approval of a

nontherapeutic use of such

drugs in food-producing

animals two years after the

date of enactment of this Act

unless certain safety

requirements are met.

Past versions in 108-

111th Congress sessions

have died.

Re-introduced in House

and Senate during 112th

session on 6-15-11.

Referred to the Senate

HELP Committee.

3-14-11 House version

referred to the Health

committee.

H.R. 2112 FY12 Agriculture

Appropriations

Funding for an array of

USDA/FDA priority

programs- notably, it did not

contain a single provision

that prevents USDA from

providing inspection of horse

processing.

12-2012 Passed House

and Senate.

S 518 VMLRP Enhancement

Act

Authorizes federal tax

exemption for federal and

state veterinary medicine

loan repayment programs

Introduced on 3-9-1.

Referred to Senate

Finance Committee.

S 1053 Veterinary Services

Investment Act

Establishes a grant program

to meet veterinary workforce

or food protection needs;

relieves veterinarian shortage

situations; supports private

practices engaged in

veterinary public health

activities; supports

veterinarians who are

participating in or have

completed VMLRP service

requirement

Introduced on 5-24-11.

Referred to Senate Ag

Committee.

H.R. 525 The Veterinary Public

Health Amendments Act

To make veterinary public

health one of the eligible

groups for loan repayment

and workforce grants.

Introduced 03-08-11.

Passed House 03-09-

11.

Received in Senate,

referred to Senate

HELP Committee.

H.R. 2966

American Horse

Slaughter Prevention

Act

Horses

Would outlaw the slaughter

of American horses here and

would stop these horses from

being exported for slaughter

Introduced 09-18-11,

09-19-11 Referred to

House Agriculture

Committee

-10-4-11 Subcommittee

on Livestock, Dairy and

Poultry.

H.R.4733:

Prevention of Farm

Animal Cruelty Act

Would require Federal

agencies to procure food

products derived from certain

animals only from sources

that are raised according to

standards similar to

California‟s Proposition 2.

Animals must have room to

stand up, turn around, and

fully extend limbs - detailed

requirements are not

provided.

Introduced in 111th

Congress, Referred to

House Subcommittee

on Livestock, Dairy,

and Poultry, session

adjourned.

H.R. 3704

Downed Animal and

Food Safety Protection

Act

Would amend the Humane

Methods of Livestock

Slaughter Act of 1958 to

ensure the euthanization of

nonambulatory livestock at

slaughter facilities.

Introduced on

December 16, 2011.

Referred to House

Subcommittee 01-17-

12.

H.R. 3798, S

3239

Egg Products

Inspection Act Egg-laying hens

Amends the Egg Products

Inspection Act to revise

housing and treatment of

egg-laying hens and related

enforcement

provisions.Directs the

Secretary of Agriculture

(USDA) to delegate to the

California Department of

Food and Agriculture certain

enforcement authority with

respect to eggs produced,

shipped, handled, transported

or received in California

prior to the date that is 18

years after the date of

enactment of this Act.

Introduced in House

1/23/2012.

Referred to House

Subcommittee on

Livestock, Dairy and

Poultry 2/8/2012

Introduced in Senate

5/24/12. Referred to

Committee on

Agriculture, Nutrition

and Forestry.

Florida


Amendment

Article X Section

19

Limiting Cruelty

Amendment:

Limiting Cruel and

Inhumane

Confinement of Pigs

During Pregnancy

Pregnant

pigs

No person shall confine a pig

during pregnancy in a cage, crate

or other enclosure, or tether a

pregnant pig, on a farm so that

the pig is prevented from turning

around freely

Adopted: 11/2002.

HB 543, SB 1276

Dangerous

Dogs/Breed Specific

Regulation

Dogs

Would eliminate the prohibition

of breed-specific local

government regulation of

dangerous dogs.

Introduced on

12-28-09 and

1-20-10

Died in Committee

5/2010.

HB 765, SB 1708 Horse Meat

Would make it illegal to

knowingly transport, distribute,

sell, purchase or possess

horsemeat for human

consumption that is not labelled

and acquired from a licensed

slaughterhouse.

HB 765 passed both

houses as of 4-22-10;

presented to

Governor 4-30-10

SB 1708 was

introduced on 2-4-

10, amended 4/20/10.

SB 1246 Farms Farm

Animals

Prohibits a person from entering

onto a farm or photographing or

video recording a farm without

the owner's written consent.

Provides a definition. Provides

penalties.

Filed 12/21/2011

Indefinitely

postponed and

withdrawn from

consideration-

05/7/11.

HB1021 Farm

Animals

Prohibits a person from entering

onto a farm or

photographing/video recording

farm without owner‟s written

consent.

Filed 12/13/2011,

passed out of

agriculture

subcommittee.

1/25/12 Dropped.

Georgia


HB 62, HB 234

Education Loans;

State Veterinary

Education Board

Clarifies the state‟s vet student

loan repayment program to

transfer administration of the

program to the State Vet

Education Board. Approved

applicants receive a loan

purchase in an amount to be

determined by board. Must

practice in a rural county in

Georgia.

HB 62 was

introduced on

1-14-09. Favorably

reported on

3/11/2010.

HB 234 was

introduced on 2-2-

09.

HB 692 Uniform Rules of the

Road

All

Animals

Prohibits transport of any animal

in the bed of a truck w/o min.

46” tall rails unless animal is

cross-tethered or enclosed;

farmers/ranchers exempted

In House for 2nd

reading 3/10/2009.

HB 529 Local Farm

Ordinances

Farm

animals

No county, municipality,

consolidated government, or

other political subdivision can

adopt or enforce any ordinance,

rule, regulation, or resolution

regulating cropmanagement or

animal husbandry practices .

Passed – 2009.

Hawaii


HB 2772 Veterinary Medicine

Permits the Board of Vet

Medicine to revoke or suspend a

license or fine a licensee for

conduct or practice contrary to

recognized principles of medical

ethics of the veterinary

profession as adopted by the

Hawaii Veterinary Medical

Assoc. and the American Vet

Signed into law on

4-9-10.

Medical Assoc.

SB 73 Non-Economic

Damages

Dogs, cats,

birds,

rabbits and

“other

domestic

pets”

Allows up to $25,000 to be

awarded to a pet owner for

emotional damages following

negligent injuries to owned

animal

Carried over to 2010

session.

Idaho


HB 481 Pharmacists,

Veterinarians

Extends the period of time in

which vets are required to

provide written confirmation of

oral drug orders from 72 hours to

7 days after the seller receives

the order.

Signed into law on

3-18-10, effective

7-1-10.

S 1316

Animals,

Normal/Accepted

Practices

Criminal animal cruelty laws

shall not be construed as

interfering with the humane

slaughter of equines, or normal

and accepted practices of animal

identification and husbandry as

established by, but not limited to,

guidelines developed and

approved by appropriate national

or state commodity

organizations.

Signed into law on

3-18-10, effective

7-1-10.

HB 465 Veterinary

Medicine, Board of

Would allow various state

agencies, a county prosecuting

attorney or a citizen to bring an

action in district court to enjoin a

person from practicing vet

medicine or practicing as a

certified vet technician, certified

euthanasia technician or

euthanasia agency without a

currently valid, active license,

permit or certificate.

Signed into law on

3-25-10.

SB 1331 Livestock Care

Standards Board Livestock

Would create the Idaho

Livestock Care Standards Board

to establish proposed standards

governing the care and well-

being of livestock and poultry in

the state.

Passed Senate on

3-1-10.

HB 206

Poultry Regulation

Poultry

Moves permitting and regulation

of poultry operations jurisdiction

from the Idaho Department of

Environmental Quality to the

Idaho State Department of

Agriculture

Signed into law:

4/5/11.

HB 210 Right to Farm

Makes improvements to Idaho‟s

right to farm law that protects

agricultural operations from

meritless nuisance suits and

nuisance ordinances

Signed into law:

4/5/11.

HB 270 Agriculture

Department

Requires that the Idaho State

Department of Agriculture notify

Signed into law:

4/5/11.

Rulemaking the public and Legislature when

proposing a rule that is more

stringent or broader in scope than

federal law or regulation or when

proposing to regulate an activity

not regulated by the federal

government.

SB 1144 Animal Care

Jurisdiction Livestock

Clarifies the role of local law

enforcement agencies and the

Idaho State Department of

Agriculture in responding to

animal-care complaints by

specifying that the department is

responsible for production

animals, not companion animals.

Signed into law:

4/11/11.

Illinois


SB 139 Humane Care For

Animals- Tech

Would provide that unless

performed by a vet for a medical

reason, tail docking and ear

cropping constitutes “animal

torture”.

Introduced on

1-30-09. Referred to

assignments on

8-15-09.

HB 4812 Animals-Horse Meat Horses

Would repeal the provision that

prohibits the slaughter of horses

for human consumption, and

create the Equine Rescue

Assistance Fund.

Introduced on

1-12-10.

HB 583 Animals-Horse Meat Horses

Would repeal a provision that


for human consumption and

would allow equidae more than

12 months of age to enter the state

for immediate slaughter without a

certificate of vet inspection.

Second Reading with

House Floor

Amendments on

3-31-09. Re-referred

to the Rules

Committee on 4-3-09.

HB 583

Amendment to the

Illinois Horse

Meat Act

Horse Meat

Would repeal a provision that


for human consumption.

1/11/11 Adjourned

until next session.

SB 1337 Animals- Farm

Animal Cruelty

Would prohibit a person from

tethering or confining any pig

during pregnancy, calf raised for

veal, or egg-laying hen on a farm,

for all or the majority of any day,

in a manner that prevents the

animal from (i) lying down,

standing up, and fully extending

his or her limbs or (ii) turning

around freely. Exemptions

include examination, testing,

individual treatment, or operation

for vet purposes.

Introduced on

2-10-09 and assigned

to the Ag and

Conservation

Committee on

2-18-09. Re-referred

to Assignments on

3-13-09.

HB 5377, SB 3712 Vet Med Pract Act

Would make several changes to

the vet practice act, including

extending the repeal date form

2014 to 2020. Would add

“complementary, alternative and

integrative therapies; rendering of

advice or recommendation by any

means, including telephonic and

HB 5377 Passed both

Houses as of 4-29-10

SB 3712 Passed the

Senate on 3-17-10.

other electronic communications;

and performing any manual or

mechanical procedure for

reproductive management,

including the diagnosis or

treatment of pregnancy, sterility,

or infertility.” Would revise the

definition of “veterinarian-client-

patient relationship.” Would

require a vet to maintain patient

records for a minimum of 5 yrs

from the date of the last known

contact.

SB 3604 Animal Welfare to

Livestock Board Livestock

The Advisory Board of Livestock

Commissioners will be

responsible for approving

administrative rules related to the

well-being of poultry and

domestic animals. The board will

also work to prevent, eliminate

and control diseases that affect

them. Under the law, the Illinois

Department of Agriculture will

now be required to submit rules

and regulations involving animal

welfare issues that the board

previously did not oversee.

The board consists of 25

members, 17 of which are appointed by the governor.

Effective

immediately.

HB 5771 Dog Breeding Puppy

Mills Dogs

Licenses as commercial anyone;

1) with 10 females 2) who sells

any dog to a pet shop or #) who

sells 30+ dogs in a calendar year.

Licenses as breeder anyone with 6

females. Requires yearly vet

exams. Dogs cannot produce

more than 2 litters in an 18 month

period. Commercial must provide

temperature controlled indoor

housing with solid floors,

constant access outdoor exercise

area with shelter

Signed into law:

8/21/2010.

HB 3841 Puppy Mills Dogs &

Cats

Amends Animal Welfare Act.

Requires pet shops to purchase

cats or dogs only from licensed

breeders. Adds license for Doggy

Daycares. Defines Hobby Breeder

as one w/ 6-26 females who sells

any dogs. Defines Large Scale

Breeder as anyone with over 26

females. Requires pre-license

inspection.

Ended in session.

SB 2580 Tethering Dogs

Prohibits tethering b/w 10pm-

6am. Requires min. 15 ft lead.

Convicted second time offenders

would be charges with a Class 4

felony including minimum 1 year

Amended 3/15 and

3/18/10. Failed vote

4/8/2010.

jail time for each day a violation

continues.

HB 1697 Bovine Tail Docking Dairy

Provides that no person may dock

or hire any other person to dock

the tail of any living member of

the bovine species. Authorizes

licensed veterinarians to dock

tails if doing so is necessary to

protect the health of the animal.

3/7/12House Floor

Amendment No. 3

Recommends Be

Adopted.

3/30/12 Referred to

Rules Committee.

SB 2011

Egg Production

Penalties and

Donation

Poultry

Provides that in addition to

administrative monetary

penalties, the Director of

Agriculture may impose certain

administrative egg penalties

against false, deceptive, or

misleading statement,

representation, or assertion

relating to the advertising and

selling of eggs and egg products.

04/08/11 re-referred

to Senate Agriculture

Committee.

HB5143 Farm Photography

Bill All Animals

Amends the Animal Research and

Production Facilities Protection

Act. Adds definition for

"deprive". Changes current

prohibited acts into animal facility

tampering and adds disrupting

operations at the animal facility, if

the operations directly relate to

agricultural production, animal

maintenance, veterinary care, or

educational or scientific purposes.

Creates the offense of animal

facility interference

3/9/12 Tabled by

sponsor Rep. Jim

Sacia.

Indiana


SB 343 All

Animals

Allows the board of animal

health to establish standards

governing the care of livestock

and poultry.

Because effective July

2010.

HB 1258 Pet Stores, Animal

Regulation

Pets and

horses

Requires disclosure statements

from pet stores and a $25 deposit

from each pet sale to go into a

commercial breeder fund.

Develops standards of housing

for pet stores. Requires equines

to have shelter from weather free

of standing water. Makes first

offense for failure to provide

equine shelter a Class B

infraction and each subsequent offense a class A infraction

Introduced 1/12/10

Referred to Committee

Failed to pass in the

Senate.

SB 0113 Confined Feeding

Operation approvals Livestock

Establishes a three year

moratorium on: 1.The start of

construction of confined feeding

operations; and 2. The expansion

of confined feeding operations

First Reading 1/05/11,

referred to Committee

on Energy

Environment Affairs.

Session adjourned.

that increase animal capacity or

manure containment capacity or

both.

SB 184 Farm Photography

Bill

All

Animals

Unlawful recording of

agricultural operations. Makes

itunlawful recording of

agricultural operations, a Class A

misdemeanor, for a person to: (1)

enter real property that is owned

by another personand on which

agricultural operations are being

conducted; and (2) takea

photograph of or make a video

recording or motion picture of

the realproperty, structures

located on the real property, or

the agriculturaloperations being

conducted on the real property;

without the writtenconsent of the

owner of the real property or an

authorizedrepresentative of the owner.

1/4/12 First reading:

referred to Committee

on Corrections,

Criminal, and Civil

Matters.

SB 1091 Agricultural

Operations

Agricultural operations. Provides

that if a court finds that the

prosecution or defense of a

nuisance action brought against

an agricultural operation was

frivolous, the court shall award

court costs and reasonable

attorney's fees to the prevailing party.

Signed by governor

3/15/12.

Iowa

HF 589

(Origin: HF 431)

Farm Photography

Bill

Prohibits entering

farm facility under

false pretenses for

the purpose of

making false

statements or

representations on an

employment

application at the

animal facility.

03/17/11 Passed

House. Referred to

Senate Agriculture

Committee.

Gov. Branstadsigned

HF 589 into law

3/2/12.

Kansas


SB 374

Would make evidence of

statements or gestures that

express apology, sympathy,

commiseration or condolence

concerning the consequences of

an event in which the declarant

was a participant not admissible

Introduced on

1-14-10, re-referred

to Judiciary on

2-18-10.

to prove liability for any claim growing out of the event.

Kentucky


HB 398 AN ACT Relating to

Agriculture Horses

Establishes the Kentucky Equine

Health and Welfare Council to

maintain the health, welfare, and

safety of equines. Creates the

Kentucky Livestock Care

Standards Commission to make

recommendations on standards

governing care of livestock and

poultry.

Signed into law on

4-12-10.

See note:

Popular referendum state,

watched by activists as the

Animal Legal Defense Fund

named it “last in animal abuse

laws”.

HB 277 Animal Care

Advisory Board

Would give authority to establish

standards for the humane care of

animals in publicly funded

animal shelters, and to make

recommendations on animal

welfare upgrades to the General

Assembly.

03/2011Posted in

Agriculture

Committee, session

adjourned.

Louisiana


HB 201 Crime/Abuse All

Animals

Would create a registry of

persons convicted of certain

crimes against animals.

Introduced on

3-8-10.

HB 1048 Veterinarians

Would require the LSU School

of Veterinary Medicine to begin

increasing the number of

Louisiana residents it accepts to

its program, with particular

emphasis on such residents who

have an expressed and proven

interest in large animal veterinary

practice. Would require the

school to give extra weight in its

admissions evaluations to

residents who can demonstrate a

long standing commitment to

large animal care.

Prefilled on 3-19-10.

HB 313 Dogs

Changed the maximum kennel

fees into minimum fees without

caps. Allows unlimited yearly

fees

Passed 5/13/10.

HB 219 Tethering Dogs

Establishes tether must be

minimum 3x dogs body length

except in trolley systems, at

Introduced 3/9/10

Signed into law

6/23/10.

campsites or during licensed

training activities

Maine


LD 1821

An Act Pertaining to

Sales Tax Exemption

for Products

Purchased for

Agricultural Use

Clarifies that antiseptics and

cleaning agents used in

commercial animal agricultural

production are exempt from sales

tax. Requires the State Tax

Assessor to post on a list of

products for which a

determination on tax exempt

status under this exemption has

been made.

Signed into law on

4-9-10, effective 90

days after the

legislature adjourns.

Egg laying

Hens

Legislative ban on cages for egg

laying

LD 1598 Strengthen laws

against puppy mills

All animals

(despite

name)

Requires state to recover fees of

relocating seized animals. Makes

probation an option for Class D

infractions. Allows expedited

removal in some cases

Signed by governor-

date unknown.

LD 97 / HP 83

Amendment to

Prohibit Changes to

Ballot Initiative

Decision

This resolution proposed to

amend the Constitution of Maine

to provide that the Legislature

may not make a change to a

measure initiated and approved

by vote of the people for 8 years

after that measure takes effect if

that change is contrary to the

general intent of that measure.

Supported by HSUS.

3/30/11 Dead in

Senate.

Maryland


HB 649

Environment-

Pharmaceutical

Disposal Act

Would prohibit a health care

facility, including a veterinary

facility, from discharging,

disposing of, flushing, pouring,

or emptying an unused

medication into a wastewater

system.

Introduced on

2-3-10.

HB 1333 Torts- Pets- Injury

or Death

Would eliminate the $7500 limit

on compensatory damages in

case of a tortuous death or injury

to a pet.

Introduced on

2-18-10.

SB 505 Pet Stores Dogs Prohibits the sale of dogs under 9

months old Introduced 2/3/10.

HB 675 / SB 254

Maryland Livestock

and Poultry Care

Advisory Board

Would establish the membership

and charge of the Maryland

Livestock and Poultry Care

Advisory Board to dictate farm

animal standards in the state.

03/14/11

Unfavorable

committee report,

withdrawn.

Massachusetts


SB 1550, SB 1689,

HB 1250

An Act relative to

damages for the

malicious injury to

pets.

Would provide for non-economic

damages in cases where

companion animals are injured or

killed, as well as punitive

damages of at least up $2,500 for

willful, wanton, or reckless acts

or omissions. Damages would be

recovered by a “guardian ad

litem” or “next friend” and

payable into a trust for care of

the animal, with any remainder

of trust funds existing at the

death of the animal distributed to

a non-profit organization

dedicated to the protection of

animals. HB 1250 would simply

provide that in suits for damages

for malicious injury or the killing

of a pet, such damages may

include emotional distress and loss of companionship.

SB 1550 and SB

1689 were

introduced on

1-16-09.

HB 1250 was

introduced on 1-9-10

and had a hearing on

1-28-10.

An extension order

was filed for all 3

bills until 5-7-10.

HB 344

An Act prohibiting

devocalization of

dogs and cats

Provides that no person shall

surgically debark or silence a dog

or cat, or cause the surgical

debarking or silencing of a dog

or cat, unless a veterinarian

licensed in this state has filed a

written certification stating that

the procedure is medically

necessary including certain

details. No person except a

licensed veterinarian, using

anesthesia, may surgically debark

or silence a dog or cat. Penalties

up to 5 years in prison, or $2,500

fine.

Signed into law on

4-22-10.

HB 815 (2009)

SB 786/HB 458

(2011)

An Act prohibiting

the cruel

confinement of

certain farm animals

Farm

animals

Would prohibit confinement of

any pig during pregnancy, calf

raised for veal, or egg-laying hen

kept on a farm in a manner that

does not allow them to turn

around freely, lie down, stand up,

and fully extend their limbs,

effective 2015. The bill provides

for certain exceptions, including

veterinary care.

Introduced on

1-16-09.

Extension order filed

until 6-15-10.

Introduced on 1-19-

11

Referred to Judiciary

Committees 1-24-11

House/Senate

adjourned 1-24-11.

HB 1975

An Act relative to

spaying and

neutering of cats

Cats

Would prohibit a person from

owning or harboring a cat over 6

months old that has not been

spayed or neutered, without a

license and permit for breeding

Introduced on

1-16-09.

cats, or a health letter from a

veterinarian.

Greyhound

Dogs

Ballot campaign banning

greyhound dog racing- no direct

impact on ag, but sets precedent

for HSUS winning a ballot

campaign there

S 335

Massachusetts

Livestock Care

Standards Board

Would create a Livestock Care

and Standards Board consisting

of farmers, animal welfare

groups, veterinarians and other

interested parties to promulgate

regulations on any aspect relating

the humane treatment of

livestock.

03/01/11Referred to

Joint Committee on

Environment,

Natural Resources

and Agriculture

07/22/2011 Hearing

held.

Michigan


Hens, veal,

eggs

Threat of ballot campaign by

HSUS, so eggs and pork groups

agreed to legislation to phase out

cages for hens and gestation

stalls for sows and veal stalls

Signed by governor

in 2009.

HB 4324

Animals; dogs;

proof of vaccination

upon license

application process;

modify.

Establishes licensing provisions

for dogs over 4 months of age

with lower fees for spayed or

neutered dogs. An owner of a

dog that is required to be licensed

shall keep the dog currently

vaccinated against rabies by an

accredited veterinarian with a

vaccine licensed by USDA.

Signed into law on

3-18-10, effective

3-23-10.

HB 5128, SB 654

Would create an Animal Care

Advisory Council in the state

dept. of ag. To review, consider

and revise species-specific,

science based, animal care

standards for the On-Farm

Certification Program

HB 5128 was

introduced on

6-23-09. SB 654 was

introduced on

6-23-09.

HB 6043, 6042 Gas Chambers Dogs and

cats

Animal shelters and registered

class B anima dealers may only

euthanize animals using an

injection of commercially

prepared solution and not by gas

chamber

Introduced 4/13/10

Referred to

committee 9/24/10.

Minnesota


SF 3212

Antibiotics use and

disposal provisions

modifications

Would prohibit the disposal of

prescription drugs containing

antibiotics, prohibit the

nontherapeutic use of animal

feed containing certain

antibiotics, establish a surcharge

Introduced on

3-11-10.

on all commercial feeds sold that

contain antibiotics and require a

label on prescription drugs

containing antibiotics.

Nontherapeutic use is defined as

any use of an antimicrobial drug

in animals in the absence of any

clinical sign of disease, including

use for growth promotion, feed

efficiency, or disease prevention.

SF 7 Dog and Cat

Breeder Standards

Dogs and

cats

Licenses and regulates breeders

with 6+ intact females dogs or

cats, establishes „adult‟ as 6

months or older. Cats may not be

housed outdoors. Caps ownership

at 50 animals

Introduced 1/8/09

Held in committee,

failed.

HF 253 Dog and Cat

Breeder Standards

Dogs and

cats

Licenses and regulates breeders

w/ 20+ intact females who sel 5+

litters/year. Establishes 6+

months as adult. Cats cannot be

housed outdoors. Requires

unspecified socialization b/w

humans and animals

Held from 2009,

tabled.

SF 1118 / HF 1369 Prohibition of Farm

Facility Tampering

Would impose penalties and

remedies for certain agricultural

offenses including animal facility

tampering, animal facility

interference (including producing

a record reproducing an image or

sound), animal facility fraud,

crop operation tampering, crop

operation fraud and crop

operation interference (including

producing a record reproducing

an image or sound).

04/28/11 Author

stricken.

1/24/12 Author

added.

Mississippi

SB 2623

Animal Cruelty

All

Animals

Mandates misdemeanor and

penalty up to 1 year in jail for 1st

offense, felony and 1-5 years for

seconds offense

Died in Committee,

definition of

„cruelty‟ too vague.

Missouri


HB 1747

Would require the MO Dept. of

Ag. To register and pay for

USDA inspections of all

establishments which process or

sell horse meat or horse meat

products for human consumption.

Passed House on

4-1-10.

HB 1814

Would include a veterinarian on

the Board of Pharmacy advisory

committee that reviews and

makes recommendations to the

Board on rules and regulations

Introduced on

1-26-10.

dealing with pharmacy

distributors, wholesale drug

distributors, drug manufacturers,

and veterinary legend drugs.

Proposition B

“Prevention of

Puppy Mill Cruelty

Act”

Dogs,

potentially

all due to

ambiguous

language

Prohibits any breeder from

having more than 50 breeding

dogs for the purpose of selling

their puppies as pets; and

creates a misdemeanor crime of

“puppy mill cruelty” for any

violation.

Passed by public

vote 11-4-2010

Amended by SB 161.

SB 795

Creates Ag Protection Fund to be

used solely by Dept. of Ag.

Creates Animal Health Fund.

Makes it a crime to release swine

on any land not enclosed by

fence . Makes it a crime to posses

or transport any wild-boar, native

or otherwise on public land.

Prohibits owning large

carnivores unless already owned

and licensed.

Introduced 1-19-10

Signed into law 7-9-

10.

SB 161 Canine Cruelty

Prevention Act

The act changes the name and

content of 2010‟s Puppy Mill

Cruelty Prevention Act to the

Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

The new act removes this

prohibition of ownership of 50 or

more dogs.. The act creates

additional requirements for

enclosure space size and

flooring.

04/27/11 Governor

signed into law.

Ballot Initiative Your Vote Counts

Act

The constitutional measure

would require a three-fourths

vote in both the House and the

Senate, or a vote of the people by

referendum, in order for the

legislature to repeal or amend

any voter-approved initiative.

(Response to SB 161)

Unsuccessful

campaign to collect

signatures ended

March 2012.

SB 695 Reporting Animal

Abuse

Requires farm employees who

videotape suspected acts of

animal abuse to turn over the

recording to law enforcement

within 24 hour.

3/20/12 Is on the

calendar for bill

perfection by the

Senate.

5/18/2012 S Informal

Calendar S Bills for

Perfection

Effective Date:

8/28/2012

Nebraska


LB 865 Adopt the livestock

animal welfare act. Livestock

The Livestock Animal Welfare

Act establishes certain livestock

cruelty offenses. Exemptions

include certain commonly

accepted practices, and care or

treatment of a livestock animal

that occurs within the scope of a

Signed into law on

3-17-10.

veterinarian or veterinary

technician‟s employment.

LB 910

Change the

Commercial Dog

and Cat Operator

Inspection Act

Dogs and

Cats

Revises commercial dog and cat

operator inspection act license

fees depending on the number of

animals housed. Requires

licenses for animal rescues under

the act.

Signed into law on

3-17-10, effective

10-1-10 for certain

provisions.

Resolutions

adopted by

Kearney, Hastings,

Columbus,

Holdedge and

Nebraska State

Chambers of

Commerce

Animal

agriculture

A resolution celebrating

Nebraska‟s ties to animal

agriculture. Supports current

livestock production practices,

animal husbandry and

regulations for humane treatment

of food production.

Opposes any current or future

actions by organizations that

would work to eliminate

livestock for food production.

Adopted 5/18/11.

LB 915 Penalties of False

Employment

Change provisions relating to

animal cruelty and create the

offense of obtaining employment

at an animal facility with intent

to disrupt operations.

Agriculture

Committee Hearing

1/31/12.

Nevada


Nevada State

Board of

Veterinary

Medical

Examiners/ NAC

638

Nevada State Board

of Veterinary

Medical

Requires written notice when an

animal will be left unattended

after hours at a veterinary

facility. Makes changes to fee

and continuing education

requirements. Allows veterinary

technicians to implant a

subcutaneous identification

microchip into an animal under

the immediate, direct, or indirect

supervision of a licensed

veterinarian. Removes self-

inspection from requirements for

licensing veterinary facilities.

Final on

4-21-10.

New Hampshire


HB 1525

Relative to physical

therapists practicing

on animals.

Would give the board of Vet

Medicine jurisdiction over

physical therapists practicing on

animals and require certification

and referral from a licensed

veterinarian.

Passed house on

2-3-10.

HM 1639 Dogs

Adds tethering a dog for 14+

hours in a 24 hour period to the

definition of animal cruelty

Introduced 1/16/10

Voted inexpedient to

legislate.

New Jersey


S 674

Concerning Internet

pharmacies and

electronic

prescriptions,

amending and

supplementing P.L.

2003, c280

The bill would require internet

pharmacies to obtain a pharmacy

permit from the New Jersey State

Board of Pharmacy prior to

dispensing or delivering

prescription drugs in New Jersey

and to provide the board with

certain information, as specified

in the bill, to qualify for the

permit.

Introduced 1-12-10.

A 3298 All

Animals

Would establish the Office of

Animal Welfare in the Dept. of

Health and Senior Services to

oversee the care, housing, and

shelter of animals and the

protection of animals from

animal cruelty in all its forms.

10/16/2008

Introduced, Referred

to Assembly

Agriculture and

Natural Resources

Committee.

NJ ST 4:22-15-57 Consolidated

Cruelty Statutes

All farm

animals

Establishes humane standards for

farm animals

Adopted: 2006.

A. 551 Horse Slaughter Horses

Prohibits slaughter of horses and

sale of horseflesh for human

consumption

Introduced: 2008

Reintroduced

1/12/2010, held in

committee.

A 861

This bill would require license

suspension of certain health care

professionals, including

veterinarians, as well as medical

waste facilities, generators, and

transporters for willful illegal or

improper medical waste disposal.

Introduced on

1-12-10

Reported out of

assembly 10-18-

2010.

A 1920

Concerning

domestic companion

animals and

supplementing Title

4 of the Revised

Statutes.

Would create a statutory right of

action for economic damages for

the owner of a domestic

companion animal that has been

injured or killed by another

person's domestic companion

animal, if the court determines

that the owner or keeper of the

animal causing the injury or

death did not exercise reasonable

care in restraining, properly

caring for, or supervising the

control of the animal causing the

injury or death.

Introduced on 2-8-

10, pending

assembly of ag

committee.

A 1518 Dogs

Prohibits tethering a dog b/w

10pm-6am. Prohibits tethering

for more than 1 hr b/w 6am-

10pm or more than 6hrs on a

trolley system. Prohibits

tethering with prong or choke

collars or a leash under 10ft long

or more than 1/8 the dogs body

Introduced January

2010

Referred to

committee.

weight

A 2023

S 1976 Horse Slaughter Horses

Prohibits slaughter of horses and

sale of horse flesh for human

consumption

Introduced 1/10/12

6/25/12 Passed by

Assembly and Senate

New York


S03178 Ban on Horse

Slaughter Horses

Prohibits horse slaughter or sale

of horseflesh for human

consumption

Referred to

Consumer Protection

Committee:

3/12/2009

Again on 6/10/2010.

A01725 Downed Animals Livestock

Prohibits any person from

transporting, holding, buying,

selling, giving,

receiving or marketing a

nonambulatory animal unless

such animal is first

humanely euthanized

Referred to

Agriculture

Committee :

1/11/2011.

A.B. 8163

Intensive

Confinement

Regulations

Veal calves,

egg-laying

hens,

pregnant

pigs

Prohibits any

person to tether or confine any

pig during pregnancy, calf raised

for veal, or

egg-laying hen who is kept on a

farm for all or the majority of

any day in a

manner that prevents such animal

from lying down, standing up

and fully

extending its limbs and turning

around freely

Referred to

Agriculture

Committee: 5/6/2009

Referred to Ag

Committee 1-6-10.

SB 6461, AB 9562

Veterinary medicine

and dental

conditions

Would include the diagnosis and

treatment of dental conditions

within the definition of the

practice of veterinary medicine.

SB 6461 was

introduced on

1-14-10 and was

substituted by AB

9562 on 4-27-10.

AB 9562 Passed the

Assembly on

4-26-10.

A 8597A Prevention of farm

animal cruelty act

Would provide strict standards

for raising and breeding farm and

livestock animals.

Introduced on

5-29-09. Referred to

Ag. Committee on

1-6-10.

1/19/2010

Amendment and

recommit to Ag.

AB 6046 Tethering of Dogs Dogs

NO dog may be tethered to a

fixed point or a trolley system for

more than 6 hours per day

Introduced 2009

Referred to

Committee 1/16/10,

Failed in Committee.

A 2711 Companion animal

– tort action

Companion

animals

Would establish a cause of action

for the wrongful injury or a death

of a companion animal, including

recovery for loss of reasonably

Introduced on

1-21-09 and referred

to Committee on

Judiciary on 1-6-10.

expected society, companionship,

comfort, protection and services

to the owner.

A 255

Micro Chipping of

all dogs and

database

Dogs

Would require micro chipping of

all dogs by the age of four

months, excluding temporarily

kept dogs. Would create a state

registry to maintain contact

information.

Introduced on 1-7-09

and referred to

Committee of Ag on

1-6-10.

Enacting Cause

stricken on 4-13-

2010.

A 5957, S 2884 Large animal vet

loan program

Would establish a loan

forgiveness program for large

animal veterinarians who agree

to practice in shortage areas in

the state.

Introduced on 2-23

and 3-5-09. Both

bills were referred to

the respective

Committees on

Higher Ed on 1-6-10.

A 7218 Prohibits docking of

dog tails Dogs

Would prohibit the docking of

dog tails for reasons other than to

protect the life or health of the

dog as deemed necessary by a

licensed veterinarian. The bill

also provides penalties for any

person who shows or exhibits a

dog whose tail has been docked,

and those who encourage,

procure, or sponsor an exhibition

where dogs with improperly

docked tails are shown. These

provisions would not apply to

dogs that have been certified as

tail docked prior to August 1,

2009.

Introduced on


to Committee of Ag.

On 1-6-10.

AB 7285 Puppy Mills Dogs and

cats

No person or business may

possess, control or have custody

of more than 50 intact dogs or

cats. Violation is a misdemeanor.

Officials may seize animals in

violation

Introduced 2009

Referred to

Committee 1/6/10.

AB 5985

Duration of pet

trusts limit

exemptions

Eliminate the 21-year limit for

the duration of pet trusts and

instead provides that the trust

will terminate when the

beneficiary or beneficiaries of

such trust are no longer alive.

Signed into law on

5/5/10.

SB 4515 Puppy Mills All

animals?

Defines a breeder as one who

breeds 3 or more animals for sale

or profit. Requires license.

Facility must be temperature

controlled with impervious floors

and record keeping. Animals

must be fed 2x a day. Establishes

a breeder license fund. Requires

breed license # on

advertisements.

Introduced 4/24/09

Referred to

committee 1/16/10.

AB 11683 Devocalization Cats and

dogs

Prohibits the devocalization of

cats or dogs unless a vet

determines that it is medically

Introduced and

referred to committee

8/4/2010.

imperative. Only vets can

perform devocalizations and

records must be kept for a min. 4

years post procedure

S 5172 Unlawful Tampering

with Farm Animals

A new section of the agriculture

and markets law is created to

establish the crime of unlawful

tampering with a farm animal,

similar to the crime of unlawful

tampering with an animal

research facility in existing law.

Nothing in this legislation would

interfere, impede, or condone in

any way any lawful investigation

or enforcement action by the

appropriate authorities.

06/07/11 Advanced

to third reading.

06/24/11- Referred to

Rules Committee.

01/04/12 Referred to

Agriculture

Committee.

A 1893 Amend Agriculture

and Market Laws Cattle

An Act to amend the agriculture

and market laws, in relations to

prohibiting tail docking in cattle

1/12/2011 Referred

to agriculture


agriculture

North Carolina

SC 460

Commercial Dog

Breeders

Dogs

Requires anyone with 15+

females be licensed as

commercial breeder including

annual vet inspections and

random inspections. Must meet

USDA kennel standards

Referred to

committee 4/29/10

Failed vote.

H 816

Animal Welfare

Advisory

Board/Fund

An act to establish the animal

welfare advisory board and the

spay/neuter donation and

memorial fund.The duties of the

Animal Welfare Advisory Board

are to promote animal welfare

initiatives and to oversee the

expenditure of funds in the

Spay/Neuter Donation and

Memorial Fund

06/02/11Referred to

House Committee on

Agriculture.

North Dakota

SB 2365

Legislative

Management Study

– Humane

Treatment of

Animals

Amendment called for legislative

management to consider studying

laws pertaining to the humane

treatment of animals for the

purpose of reviewing their

content and their applicability to

domestic or companion animals

and to animals in production

agriculture, and recommending

necessary policy changes to laws

that are found to be irrelevant,

inconsistent, illogically arranged,

not reflective of current practices

or needs, or unclear in their intent

and direction

04/01/11 Failed in

House Agriculture

Committee.

Ohio


HJR 2, SJR 6 Ohio Livestock Care

Standards Board

All

livestock

Issue 2 established the Ohio


to ensure excellent animal care

while promoting the economic

viability of Ohio‟s animal

agriculture community, family

farms, and the continued

availability of a safe, locally

grown, and affordable food

supply. OLCSB regulations

should promote sound science,

good stewardship, and a process

that is fair to all producers

Introduced:

6/19/2009

Amended with

compromise 7/6/09

Established 2010.

HB 79

To remove pit bulls

from the definition

“vicious dog” in

state legislature

Pit Bulls

Would remove pit bulls from the

definition of “vicious dog” in the

dangerous dog statues.

Introduced on


to Ag Committee.

HB 96

To require the

inclusion of a

bittering agent in

engine coolant and

antifreeze.

Would require inclusion of a

bittering agent in engine coolant

and antifreeze manufactured after

1-1-11.

Introduced on 3-24-

09. Passed by House

on 12-17-09 and

referred to Sen.

Cmte. On Comm.

and Labor.

HB 414 Livestock

Implements the new

constitutional provision voters

approved in 2009 by ballot

initiative. Establishes the

requirements and responsibilities

of the Ohio Livestock Care

Standards Board and the Director

of Ag. in administering and

enforcing the rules that govern

care of livestock, including

funding and inspections.

Signed into law on

3-31-10.

HB 95

Licensing and

standards for

kennels, dog

intermediaries and

rescues

Dogs

Defines a breeding dog as any

intact dog requiring anyone with

intact animal to obtain a license,

insurance, bonds and a

background check. Requires all

litters to be sold be registered

with the State for a fee. Females

are limited to 1 litter/year.

Mandates certain vet procedures.

Establishes a Kennel Control

Authority of 6 people none of

whom are breeders.

Proposed in 2009.

Died in House,

substitute proposed.

HB 70 Felony Cruelty All

Animals

Makes depriving an animal of

food, water or shelter a felonyto

the fifth degree

Introduced 3/10/09

Passed 2/24/10.

Oklahoma


HB 2791

The bill sets maximum loan

amounts for certain eligible

agricultural businesses including

persons establishing a veterinary

practice in which at least 30% of

the practice consists of services

for large animals. The bill would

provide the total loan amount for

such practice shall not exceed

$250,000.

Passed House on

2-16-10.

Passed Senate on

4-6-10.

HB 2345

Agriculture;

creating the OK

livestock care

standards board.

Livestock

Would create the Oklahoma


for the purpose of establishing

standards governing the care and

well-being of livestock and

poultry. The Board would be

comprised of 13 members,

including the State Veterinarian

and one other licensed

veterinarian.

Passed House on

3-9-10.

Passed Senate on

4-8-10.

Died in conference.

HB 3202

Professions and

occupations,

relating to the OK

Veterinary

Proactive Act;

adding definition for

teeth floating.

Horses

Removes acts of "animal

husbandry," teeth floating and

farriery from the definition of

veterinary medicine. Establishes

a certification mechanism for

non-veterinary equine dental care

providers, allowing them to

perform teeth floating on equines

and other farm animals. If

prescription drugs are used, a

veterinarian may assemble those

drugs and allow the owner or the

non-veterinary provider to pick

up and deliver the drugs to the

owner. No prescription drugs

shall be prescribed, dispensed, or

administered without the

establishment of a valid client-

patient relationship between the

equine owner and the

veterinarian.

Signed into law on

4-16-10, effective 90

days after 5-28-10

projected

adjournment.

SB 1712

Professions and

occupations;

creating the

Commercial Pet

Breeders Act.

Creates the Commercial Pet

Breeders Act and establishes the

Commercial Pet Breeders Board.

Regulates breeders of 11 or more

female cats or dogs, requires

licensing and inspections,

authorizes the Board to adopt

rules relating to breeding

practices, and sets criminal

penalties.

Signed into law on

5-5-10, effective on

7-1-11.

HB 2827

Criminal procedure;

authorizing victim of

crimes to request

emergency

temporary order of

protection.

Allows the petitioner of a

protective order to request the

exclusive care, possession, or

control of any animal owned,

possessed, leased, kept or held by

the petitioner, defendant or minor

child residing in the residence of

the petitioner or defendant.

Signed into law on

4-16-10, effective on

11-1-10.

HB 1641 Pets Authorizes trusts for the care of Signed into law on

designated domestic or pet

animals.

5/10/10.

HB 1306

Oklahoma Livestock

Care Standards

Board

This bill would allow the

Oklahoma Department of

Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

to administer and enforce farm

animal care standards. The State

Board of Agriculture will be

directed to promulgate rules to

administer and enforce the

standards. The Board would

include 15 members, including

the Commissioner of Agriculture,

state veterinarian, and

representatives from animal

agriculture.


Appropriations and

Budget Committee,

session adjourned

5/27/11 with no

further action taken.

Oregon


OR ST 167.310-

390

Offenses against

animals

All animals,

cattle

included

The term "assault" is used to

define certain crimes against

animals, animal abuse may be

elevated to a felony offense if the

act was committed directly in

front of a minor child or if the

perpetrator was previously

convicted of domestic violence

Adopted: 1986

Amended: 2008

Additional statutes

added.

Happy Valley and

Washington

County Animal

Control Ordinance

6.04.040

Livestock and

poultry

Cattle,

horses,

goats,

poultry

Restricts placement of

slaughterhouses and size

requirements for housing of

livestock

Adopted: 1968

Amended: 1980.

SB 694 Gestation Crate Ban Pregnant

pigs

First-ever legislature approved

bill banning use of gestation

crates

Adopted: 6/28/2007

Effective: 2012.

SB 805 Housing for Egg-

Laying Hens Poultry

Requires all enclosures built after

January 2012 meet certain

standards established in

American Humane Association's

farm animal welfare certification

program.Prohibits person from

selling eggs or egg products that

person knows, or reasonably

should know, are product of such

confinement.

06/17/11 Governor

Signed into Law,

Effective July 2015.

Ballot Initiative Caged Hen Measure Poultry

The initiative would apply to the

sale of all eggs including those

purchased in cartons in the

grocery store, as well as liquid

eggs and egg products as already

defined in Oregon statute. It

would mandate cage-free

housing for all egg-laying hens

and would take effect in 2019.

Dropped in July

2011 after UEP-

HSUS deal.

HB 3006 Dairy Animal

Welfare Board Dairy

Authorizes Board to submit

comments based on most recent

scientific data to Legislative

Assembly on legislation,

In Subcommittee on

Natural Resources,

public hearing held

5/12/11

administrative rules, ballot

measures, and Supreme Court

decisions that impact dairy

animal care, welfare or

husbandry or agricultural

practices affecting dairy animals.

06/30/11- In

committee upon

adjournment .

Pennsylvania


SB 1225

Amends Vet

Medicine Practice

Act

Would require a veterinarian to

provide a client information sheet

to the owner of the animal in

cases of dispensing prescription

drugs that will be administered

by the owner in an outpatient

setting.

Introduced on 2-4-

10.

State Board of

Vet. Medicine/49

PA Code, Chapter

31, Sec. 31.21,

Rules of

Professional

Conduct

Requires a veterinarian to

provide euthanasia to relieve

animal suffering; notify a client

before terminating care of a

client's animal; and explain the

benefits and significant potential

risks of treatment options and

obtain written consent to

euthanasia and treatments that

have significant risks. Provides

details about the veterinarian's

duty to protect the personal

privacy of clients.

Final on 4-20-10.

SB 1417 Amendment to the

“Dog Law” Dogs

Provides further definitions, for

issuance of dog licenses, for

revocation or refusal of kennel

licenses, for seizure and

detention of dogs, for provisions

relating to dog bites and for

disposition of fines and penalties.

Introduced and

referred to committee

6/23/10.

SB 906

Defines trespass and/or

vandalism on posted agriculture

biosecurity areas as ecoterrorism

and a felony

Introduced 2009

Amended

Presented to

Governor 11/22/2010

Signed into Law.

SB 443

Prohibiting the

administration of

certain

antimicrobial agents

Livestock

Prohibits the administration of

certain antimicrobial agents in

agriculture; providing for

inspection and testing of

agricultural operations, for

enforcement, for reporting by

agricultural operations and for

alternatives to administration of

antimicrobial agents to animals;

and making related repeals.


Senate Agriculture

and Rural Affairs

Committee.

Rhode Island


H 6133, H 7769 Livestock

Would provide that a person

shall not tether or confine on a

farm any pig during pregnancy,

calf raised for veal, or egg-laying

hen, for all or the majority of any

day, in a manner that prevents

the animal from (1) lying down,

standing up, and fully extending

its limbs; and (2) turning around

freely. Exemptions include

veterinary treatment.

Introduced on

4/23/09 and 2/25/10.

Both bills were

referred to Judiciary

Committee. Held for

further study.

H 7768 Animal Abuser

Registry

Would create an animal abuser

registry and would provide for

penalties for failure to register.

Introduced on

2-25-10. Held for

further study.

S 2023, 2022 Tethering Dogs

Prohibits tethering a dog for

more than one hour a day.

Authorizes RI-SPCA to enter

property, investigate and enforce

bill

Introduced 1-3-10

June 2 2010 -

Referred to House

Judiciary.


Prohibits tethering for more than

one hour each day or leaving a

dog in an outside enclosure for

more than 14 hours a day.

Authorizes RI-SPCA to enter

property, investigate and enforce

bill

Introduced 2-28-10

Held for further

study

Referred to House

Committee on

Judiciary.

SB 2191 Unlawful

Confinement

Veal calves

and sows

An Act relating to animals and

animal husbandry- unlawful

confinement of a covered animal

(would prohibit the unlawful

confinement of calves raised for

veal or sows during gestation.)

3/7/12 Referred to

Senate Committee on

Environment and

Agriculture.

Committee

recommended it be

further studied.

5/29/2012 Passed

Senate

5/30/2012 Passed

House

6/19/2012 Signed by

Governor

Effective: one year

after passage 6/2013

SB 458 Animal and Animal

Husbandry Cattle

An act relating to animals and

animal husbandry(would prohibit

the docking of the tails of cattle

except under certain conditions)

3/10/11 Introduced,

referred to Senate

Environmental and

Agriculture

6/2/11 Senate Passed

6/7/11 Referred to

House Environment

and Natural

Resources

6/28/11 Committee

recommended

measure be held for

further study

South Carolina


HB 3265 Animal Cruelty

Would provide for a veterinary

exemption from animal cruelty

laws for accepted veterinary

practice standards.

Introduced on


to Committee on Ag.

Nat. Res. & Environ.

Affairs.

South Dakota


H.C.R. 1007 Horse Slaughter Horses

Supports the need for USDA

inspected horse slaughter plants in

SD

Adopted: 2/2/2008.

S.B. 114 Horse Slaughter

Study Horses

Provides for a study of the

feasibility of establishing a horse

slaughter plant in SD ($100,000)

Failed: 2008.

S.B. 44

Repeal tax

exemptions of

animal fee, fur-

bearing animals

All

livestock

and poultry

Repeals tax exemption of livestock

and fur animals Failed: 2009.

HB 1187

Prohibits the killing, injury or

interference with a law enforcement

support animal and establishes

penalties. The new section does not

apply to a law enforcement officer

or a veterinarian who terminates the

life of a law enforcement support

animal to relieve the animal of

undue suffering and pain.

Signed into law on

3-29-10

HCR 1006 Anti Activist

Resolution

Concurrent resolution in opposition

to certain actions by animal rights

groups, specifically HSUS and

PETA, to undermine agricultural

producers through ballot initiatives.

Passed unanimously

in Senate and House

February 2012.

Tennessee


HB 3491

Amends the definition of practice

of veterinary medicine. Exempts

use of manual procedures for

testing of pregnancy in

bovine animals when performed

by a farmer who is not

compensated by the owner other

than by the exchange ofservices

for or the use of equipment, and

the results are for the owner's use

only and does not affect

commerce. Revises the definitions

for consultation and veterinarian-

client-patient relationship.

Signed into law

on 4-19-10.

SB 2796

Non

livestock

animals

Good Samaritan law applicable to

medical care for non-livestock

animals. Veterinarians and

Signed into law on

4-16-10.

ancillary staff are protected from

civil liability to the owner of the

animal under certain

circumstances.

SB 3386, 3576 Animal Cruelty

All

Animals

Increases the penalty for

aggravated animal cruelty to Class

E penalty w/ no less than 1 year

and no more than 6 years in prison

and possible fine of no more than

$3000. Requires psychological

counseling

Introduced 1/29/10

Failed in committee.

HB 3676, 3760 Animals and Animal

Cruelty

All

animals

Makes an offense which results in

serious injury or death of an

animal a Class E felony

Referred to

committees.

HB 3540, 3913 Animals and Animal

Cruelty

All

animals

Creates a Class A misdemeanor

for a person previously convicted

of animal cruelty if such person

violates animal custody rules as

set forth

Introduced 2/20/10

Signed into law

4/20/10.

Texas

HB 334

Texas Livestock

Care Standards

Advisory Committee

Livestock

Would establish the Texas

Livestock Care Standards Advisory

Committee. The committee would

be required to research and develop

standards governing livestock and

poultry care, food safety, local

food availability, food

affordability, and best farm

management practices for animal

well-being.


House Agriculture

and Livestock

Committee.

HB 414 Equine Dentistry

Bill Equine

Relating to the regulation of equine

dentistry and the conducting of

licensing examinations by the State

Board of Veterinary Medical

Examiners

5/30/12 Passed

House and Senate

6/17/2011 Signed by

Governor

Effective: 9/1/2011

Utah


HB 155

Agricultural

Advisory Board and

Livestock Related

Policy

Expands duties and membership of

Agricultural Advisory Board to

encompass issues related to care of

livestock and poultry. The Board,

which includes a member of the

UVMA, may consider food safety,

local availability and affordability

of food, and acceptable practices

for livestock and farm

Signed into law on

3-23-10.

management.

SB 218 Engine Coolant

Bittering Agent Act

Requires a bittering agent to be

added to engine coolant with some

exemptions, as of 1/1/11.

Signed into law on

3-25-10.

HB 28

Controlled

Substance Database

Amendments

Creates the Controlled Substance

Database Act but excludes

veterinarians from registration and

training requirements.

Signed into law on

3-29-10.

HB 107 Animal Shelter

Amendments

Provides governing body of a

county or municipality discretion

to determine whether to make an

impounded animal available to be

used for research or educational

purposes. Prohibits the provision

of an animal for research or

educational purposes unless the

animal has been legally

impounded for at least five days or

a longer period as provided by

local ordinance, the animal has not

been claimed or redeemed, and the

animal shelter has made a

reasonable effort to find the

rightful owner of the animal and to

make it available to others.

Signed into law on

3-26-10.

HB 285 Practice of

Veterinary Medicine

Amends definition of practice of

veterinary medicine to include

dispensing any drug, medicine,

treatment, method, or practice.

Signed into law on

3-25-10.

H.B. 187

Agricultural

Operation

Interference

Provides that a person is guilty of

agricultural operation interference

if the person, without the consent

of the owner of the operation,

records an image of, or sound

from, an agricultural operation

while on the property where the

agricultural operation is located;

and

establishes penalties.

2/24/12 House

substituted bill.

3/20/12 Signed into

law by governor.

Vermont


SB 230

An Act Relating to

Humane Slaughter

of Livestock

Livestock

Would provide that an inspector

that is a representative of HSUS, a

Vermont-domiciled humane

society, or similar organization

approved by rule, shall be present

to observe the slaughterer, packer,

or stockyard operator when

engaged in the practice of bleeding

or slaughtering livestock.

Inspectors would be required to

report any violations of the

humane slaughter rules, and an

investigation of any alleged

violations must be completed

Prefiled on 12/21/09.

Read and referred to

Committee on

Agriculture on

1/5/10.

within 5 days of the report.

HB 633

Would reduce the sales and use tax

from 6% to 3.5%, but include

veterinarian and animal specialty

services.

Introduced on

1-29-10.

Virginia


HB 322

Rabies vaccination;

exempts certain

dogs and cats

Cats and

Dogs

Provides an exemption for rabies

vaccinations for animals who

suffer from an underlying medical

condition that is likely to result in

a life-threatening condition in

response to vaccination and such

exemption would not risk public

health and safety.

Signed into law on

3-29-10, effective

7-1-10.

HB 1145

Animal Cruelty,

requires

veterinarian to

report

All

Animals

Provides that any veterinarian who

makes a report of suspected

animal cruelty or who provides

related records or information is

immune from civil or criminal

liability or administrative penalty

or sanction on account of such

report, records, information, or

testimony, unless the veterinarian

acted in bad faith or with

malicious purpose.

Signed into law on

4-11-10, effective

7-1-10.

HB 281 Animal Cruelty,

increases penalties

All

animals

Increases the penalty for a

subsequent violation of the animal

care laws regarding an owner's

failure to provide adequate food,

water, shelter, and veterinary care

from a Class 4 to a Class 2

misdemeanor. A subsequent

violation related to adequate

space, exercise, care, treatment

and transportation are increased

from a Class 4 to a Class 3

misdemeanor. The civil penalty

for failure to sterilize a dog or cat

adopted from a releasing agency is

increased from $50 to $250.

Introduced 1/13/10

Signed into law

5/21/10.

HB 1541

Agricultural

Animal; care by

owner, penalty

Livestock

Provides standards of care

specifically for agriculture animals

that ensure accommodation for

customary farming activities. The

bill also clarifies certain

procedures for the seizure and

impoundment of agricultural

animals.

House: Assigned

ACNR sub: Ag

Committee.

HB 1541 / SB

1026

Farm Animal Care

Standards Livestock

Provides standards of care

specifically for agricultural

animals that ensure

accommodation for customary

Passed House and

Senate

02/2011,Governor

signed into law

farming activities. An owner of an

agricultural animal would be

required to provide feed to prevent

malnourishment, water to prevent

dehydration and veterinary

treatment as needed to address

impairment of health or bodily

function when such impairment

cannot be otherwise addressed

through animal husbandry.

4/29/11.

SB 610

Regulation of farm

animals care and

handling

Livestock

– and dogs

Provides that the Department of

Agriculture and Consumer

Services occupies the entire field

of regulation of the care and

handling of agricultural animals

and that no locality or humane

society shall do so. Lists dogs as

agricultural animals.

1/18/12 Referred to

agriculture

committee.

Washington


SB 6745

Concerning

Veterinary

Technician Licenses

After 7/1/15, eliminates the

practical experience option for

licensure of veterinary

technicians.

Signed into law on

3-18-10, effective

6-10-10.

HB 1150

Providing civil

remedies for

damages to a

companion animal

Companion

animals

Would allow an owner of a

companion animal who suffers

damage as a result of acts of

animal cruelty to bring an action

for exemplary damages up to three

times the actual damages

sustained, plus attorney's fees.

Introduced on


to Judiciary on

1-11-10.


Makes it unlawful to tether a dog

outside, unattended for more than

1 hour each day

Introduced 2009,

died.

SB 5487 / HB

1813

Hen Housing

Standards

A bill establishing standards and a

timeline for egg production to

meet United Egg Producers (UEP)

and American Humane

Association (AHA) standards,

implementing European Union

(EU) standards for egg

production. Deadline for

implementation is 2026.

Governor signed into

law 05/10/2011,

effective 08/01/2012.

Initiative Measure

1130

Prevention of Farm

Animal Cruelty Act

Similar to California‟s Proposition

2, Measure 1130 would prohibit

conventional cage housing for

laying hens and would ban the

sale of conventional eggs in the

state. The measure is backed by

The Humane Society of the

United States, Farm Sanctuary,

and the ASPCA.

Deadline to turn in

signatures is

07/01/11 for

November 2011

ballot.

Initiative dropped

after July

UEP/HSUS

agreement.

West Virginia


HB 4407

Updating the law

regarding the rabies

vaccinations of dogs

and cats

Dogs and

cats

Updates rabies law to require the

use of vaccines capable of

producing immunity for 3 years

and dogs and cats to be boosted

one year after initial vaccination

and every third year thereafter.

Requires dogs and cats to be

vaccinated by the age of 6 months

by a licensed veterinarian or his or

her assistant.

Signed into law on

3-16-10, effective

6-6-10.

HB 4201

Creating the

Livestock Care

Standards Board

Livestock

Creates a 13-member Livestock

Care Standards Board to prescribe

standards for livestock care and

well being, including a

veterinarian engaged in large

animal practice.

Signed into law on

4-1-10, effective

6-11-10.

SB 490 Relating to domestic

violence

Allows a court, in a domestic

violence order of protection, to

award the petitioner the exclusive

care, possession, or control of any

animal owned, possessed, leased,

kept or held by either the

petitioner or the respondent or a

minor child, and prohibit the

respondent from concealing,

molesting, physically injuring,

killing or otherwise disposing of

the animal and limiting or

precluding contact by the

respondent with the animal.

Signed into law on

3-24-10, effective

6-11-10.

SB 81

Creating WV

Official Prescription

Program Act

Requires prescriptions to be

written on an official tamper-proof

form to reduce prescription drug

fraud.

Signed into law on

3-22-10, effective

6-9-10.

Wisconsin


AB 708

Would authorize the Board of

Regents of the University of

Wisconsin System to repay up to

$50,000 in educational loans

obtained by a food animal

veterinarian for education leading

to a doctor of veterinary medicine

degree from an accredited school

of veterinary medicine.

Introduced on

2-9-10.

www.animalagalliance.org

[email protected]

703-562-5160

current state animal agriculture legislation

Documents