Legislative Alerts

The voices of responsible dog owners are being heard!  Alabama House Bill 235, which seeks to authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas if the company wishes to do so, has passed in the House and in Senate committee. It next will be voted on by the full Senate. […]

In an effort to recognize and honor police dogs and other police animals killed in the line of duty, Texas House Bill 1677 seeks to direct the State Preservation Board to establish a Texas Police Service Animals Memorial Monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports HB 1677, […]

Recently, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned its 2021 session.  During the short 30-day session, a few bills relating to dogs and dog owners were considered. Those bills monitored by AKC Government Relations included: House Bill 2109: As originally introduced, this bill sought to expands the regulatory and policymaking Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services by […]

Current Minnesota law does not allow certified emergency medical responders to provide emergency care to police dogs injured in the line of duty.  Minnesota House File 568 and Senate File 952 would allow certified emergency medical personnel to provide emergency medical care to injured police dogs.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports both HF 568 […]

Alabama House Bill 235, which seeks to authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in outdoor restaurant seating areas if the company wishes to do so, continues to advance. It has already passed in the House and will next be voted on by the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development. The bill could […]

Senate Bill 556, as introduced, seeks to expand and make changes to certain laws that govern trapping in the state.  As introduced, this bill could potentially increase hazards for dogs whose owners participate in field trials, Coonhound events, hunting, and training for these sports, as well as hiking, wilderness camping, and other outdoor activities with […]

The Utah Legislature adjourned for the year on Friday, March 5 without passing House Bill 420. This bill as introduced would have restricted retail pet stores in the state, and included a broad definition of pet store that could have included hobbyists who raise and sell dogs in their home. AKC expressed concerns with this […]

On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 9am, the House Ways and Means Committee will consider the Amended HB 532, concerning amended animal records database language.  The changes made by the House Environment and Agriculture Committee in Amended HB 532 address the concerns raised by AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) and New Hampshire Dog Owners of […]

This week, the House Judiciary Committee is accepting testimony on multiple bills.  Text of bills are embedded in the links.  AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) strongly encourages Rhode Island residents to take action as follows: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the rise of the House: DOGS OUTSIDE AND UNATTENDED - H. 5736 would amend the […]

Texas House Bill 652 would require animal shelters to provide notice to each person who adopts an animal from the shelter of any epizootic infectious disease that occurs among the animals in the shelter within a 15-days period before and after the date of transfer. “Epizootic” means the occurrence in a given geographic area or […]