Legislation – State Bills
Strengthening Laws that Protect Animals and Striking Down Laws Hurting Animals
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the state and local levels to advance important legislation. We advocate for laws that promote or protect the lives and interests of animals, and we oppose legislation that would be detrimental to animals’ well-being.
We also work closely with the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s other programs to identify opportunities to create model legislation that address strategic legal issues in the areas of civil and criminal law, and monitor legislation that impacts animals at the state and local levels.
State Bills
Cat Declaw Ban (Michigan)
H.B. 4883 and H.B. 4674
Proposed legislation would prohibit cat declaw procedures in Michigan unless for therapeutic purposes.
Cat Declawing Ban (Illinois)
H.B. 1533
This bill would prohibit cat declawing in Illinois, with an exemption for the rare cases when the surgery is performed for a legitimate therapeutic purpose.
An Act to Increase Kennel Safety (Massachusetts)
S. 1309/H. 2019
This bill, also known as Ollie’s Law, would require the state to promulgate minimum standards for certain types of kennels such as daycares, boarding facilities, and breeding kennels.
An Act concerning the surgical declawing of cats and other animals (New Jersey)
S.1803/A.2578
This bill would prohibit the surgical declawing of cats and other animals in New Jersey, except in rare cases of medical necessity for the cat.
An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing (Massachusetts)
S.190
This bill would prohibit cat declawing except as a medical necessity to protect the cat’s health.
Providing Shelter to Companion Animals in Disasters (California)
A.B. 781
This bill would require counties in California to designate emergency shelters that can accommodate companion animals.
Expanding Cruelty-Free Testing (California)
A.B. 357
This bill would prohibit manufacturers and contract testing facilities from testing on animals in California when an appropriate “alternative test method or strategy” exists, or a waiver has been granted by the relevant regulatory agency
Mass Animal Fund (Massachusetts)
H. 3900 Amendment #139/S. 3 Amendments ENV #4 & #8
This amendment in the state budget bill for fiscal year 2024, H.3900/S.3, will allocate $100,000 to critical companion animal health services.
An Act Related to Pesticides (California)
A.B. 1322
Would expand the state’s moratorium on certain hazardous rodenticides by adding diphacinone to the existing moratorium and require the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulation to create permanent restrictions.
Low-Carbon Fuel Standard regulations: biogas derived from livestock manure (California)
S.B. 709
This legislation would curtail California’s factory farm biogas incentives, which do little to address the dairy industry’s immense greenhouse gas emissions
The California Animal Protection Enforcement Act (California)
AB 554
California bill would clarify the authority of SPCAs to use civil enforcement to prevent the violation of state animal protection laws
Prohibiting harmful practices and devices at rodeos (Los Angeles, CA)
Council File: 20-1575
Proposed Los Angeles ordinance would prohibit the use of harmful practices, techniques, and devices at rodeos or rodeo-related events
Humane Protection of Animals Act (Massachusetts)
S.1142/H.1718
The Humane Protection of Animals Act (S.1142/H.1718) contains a collection of provisions that strengthen and clarify Massachusetts’ animal cruelty laws.
Promote Alternatives to Cosmetics and Product Testing on Animals (Massachusetts)
S.1424/H.850
Bill would require manufacturers and their contract testing facilities to use methods that replace animal testing of products and ingredients for cosmetics, household cleaners, and industrial chemicals.
Animal Possession Ban (Massachusetts)
An Act to Protect Animals From Convicted Animal Abusers (H.1703/S.1076)
Bars people convicted of animal cruelty from possessing, adopting, or fostering animals for at least five years after their release from custody
Protecting Animals Used in Circuses (Massachusetts)
An Act Relative to the Use of Elephants, Big Cats, Primates, and Bears in Traveling Exhibits and Shows (S.2197/S.2189/H.3245)
Prohibits the use of certain wild animals in circuses and traveling shows in Massachusetts.
Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of Guinea Pigs in Pet Shops (Boston, Massachusetts)
Docket #0626
Would expand the city’s existing ban on the pet store sale of commercially bred dogs, cats, and rabbits to additionally include guinea pigs
Ensure That Dogs and Their Families Can Stay Together (Massachusetts)
An Act to Maintain Stable Housing for Families with Pets in an Economic Crisis and Beyond (S.876/H.1367)
Expands access to housing by prohibiting certain discriminatory policies for tenants, residents, homeowners, and renters based on their dog’s breed and by helping ensure families can be housed together with companion animals during a state of emergency
Ryder’s Law
Intro 573
Proposed New York City legislation will phase out and ban horse-drawn carriages in the city and replace them with horseless, electric carriages.
An Act Concerning the Feeding of Black Bear (New Jersey)
A.1967/S.1891
This important “Bear Smart” bill aims to protect black bears in New Jersey by preventing unintentional feeding, a root cause of human-bear interactions.
Oppose: SJR 3 Puts Ohio Wildlife in Danger (Ohio)
Ohio Senate Joint Resolution 3 would allow for hunting and fishing using inhumane “traditional” hunting and trapping methods and mandate hunting and fishing as a “preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”
Protect Domestic Animals from Cruel Conditions with Civil Citations (Massachusetts)
S.1059/H.2102
Allows Massachusetts law enforcement officers to remediate situations involving animals kept in cruel conditions by issuing civil citations.
Protecting Animals from Rat Poisons (Massachusetts)
An Act Relative to Pesticides (S.487/H.825)
Would reduce the use of rat poisons in Massachusetts to protect wild animals as well as companion animals
Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (Illinois)
HB 1169
The Illinois Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (CAAP) bill, HB 1169, would provide for a volunteer attorney to advocate for cat and dog victims in cruelty cases.
Banning the Sale of Fur (Massachusetts)
An Act Prohibiting the Sale of Fur Products (H.849/S.590)
Bans the sale of new fur products, including clothing, fashion accessories, and home décor, in the Commonwealth.
Banning Killing Contests (New York)
S.4099/A.2917
Proposed legislation would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events.
Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (New Jersey)
A.1965/S.2211
Courtroom Animal Advocate Program (CAAP) laws allow advocates — supervised law students or volunteer lawyers — to advocate for animal victims in criminal cruelty cases
Banning Killing Contests (New Jersey)
A.502/S.2409
Proposed legislation would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events.
