On Friday, June 21, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law three bills that affect dogs and dog owners in Florida:
CS/HB 87, among other provisions, allows the use of lethal force against a bear when necessary to avoid an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to a person or pet, or substantial damage to a dwelling. American Kennel Club Government Relations (AKC GR) expressed support for enabling dog owners to protect their dogs from attack by a bear under strictly specified circumstances and discussed this bill with Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC) members during a strategy and advocacy meeting. HB 87 takes effect on July 1, 2024.
CS2/HB 273 exempts from public records requirements the identifying information about persons, firms, associations, and other groups that adopt animals, provide foster care to animals, and all “other persons receiving legal custody of animals” from an animal shelter or animal control agency. HB 273 took effect on June 21, 2024. Read more about concerns with this legislation.
CS/HB 303 / HB 849 and several interrelated bills sought to authorize the practice of veterinary telehealth and/or would authorize an employee, agent, or contractor of a county or municipal animal control authority to vaccinate dogs, cats, and ferrets against rabies under certain circumstances. In 2023, AKC GR discussed previous versions of these bills with sponsors and monitored all versions of the 2024 bills throughout this year’s session. AKC GR also discussed these bills with FAKC members during a strategy and advocacy meeting. HB 303, which authorizes certain persons to administer rabies vaccinations to certain animals under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian, and HB 849, which provides for the practice of veterinary telehealth, were enacted and take effect on July 1, 2024.
Reminder: August 24–September 6 Sales Tax Holiday on Pet Evacuation Supplies
CS/HB 7073, which was enacted as Chapter 2024-158, established state sales tax holidays on June 1-June 14, 2024, and August 24-September 6, 2024, on certain supplies necessary for the evacuation of household pets. AKC GR discussed this bill with FAKC members during a strategy and advocacy meeting and urged support. Click on Chapter 2024-158 and scroll down to page 67 to view eligible purchases.
Click here to view AKC’s previous update on these and other 2024 Florida bills.
AKC GR again thanks members of the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs, AKC-affiliated clubs, sportsmen, allied organizations, and dog owners who contacted their lawmakers about legislation that affects our dogs.
For additional information, please email AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.