The California legislative session has begun, and AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) is tracking several bills of interest to dog owners. We also are closely watching for any amendments or other actions, as animal activists have made public comments indicating their desire to regulate breeders.
Be sure to be checking the AKC Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org for the latest information, and also ensure your club has appointed a Legislative Liaison and their contact information has been provided to AKC GR so you can be sure to get timely updates throughout the session. Contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org for questions or more information.
The following are key bills introduced to date that AKC is following, and no action is needed at this time. Specific information on hearings, etc. will be provided as they become available:
- Assembly Bill 2012 – Rabies control data.
Status: Referred to Assembly Business and Professions Committee
Summary: This bill would require animal shelters in cities and counties to report various rabies control program data to the state. This restores the protocol that lapsed during the Brown administration and will provide a uniform and objective set of data when evaluating the conditions of animal shelters. - Assembly Bill 2216 – Tenancy: common household pets
Status: Awaiting committee referral.
Summary: This “placeholder” bill looks to expand access to people with pets being able to access rental housing. The bill is awaiting formal legislative language.
- Assembly Bill 2248 – Contracts: sales of dogs and cats.
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Judiciary
Summary: This bill states that a contract to transfer ownership of a dog or cat is void if all of the following are satisfied:
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- The buyer is in California.
- The contract requires a nonrefundable deposit.
- The contract does not identify the original source of the dog or cat, including, but not limited to, the breeder.
- Assembly Bill 2042 – Law enforcement: police canines.
Status: Awaiting committee referral.
Summary: This bill is an updated version of AB 742 from 2023 and would direct the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to regulate the use of police canines for the purpose of arrest, apprehension, or any form of crowd control.
- Assembly Bill 3241 – Law enforcement: police canines.
Status: Awaiting committee referral.
Summary: This bill would increase data reporting requirements for police departments concerning the use of police canines and direct the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to develop new training standards and deployment guidelines.
- Senate Bill 921 – Animal Welfare
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Public Safety
Summary: This proposal rewrites animal cruelty law to make causing an animal to suffer “needless suffering” a crime.
- Senate Bill 922 – Animal Cruelty
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Public Safety
Summary: This bill would enhance the fines for leaving an animal in an unattended vehicle during dangerous weather conditions, including hot weather. It would also provide for counseling and education to people cited under this statute.
- Assembly Bill 1988 – Stray animals: Availability for adoption or release.
Status: Referred to Assembly Business and Professions Committee
Summary: This bill would allow animal shelters to immediately adopt out puppies and kittens in the narrow instance of owner surrenders.
- Assembly Bill 2133 – Veterinary medicine: registered veterinary technicians.
Status: Referred to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. - Summary: This bill would authorize a registered veterinarian technician to perform neuter surgery on a male domestic cat under the direct supervision of a California-licensed veterinarian. As introduced, this would not apply to dogs.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.