Legislation – Victories

Strengthening Laws that Protect Animals and Striking Down Laws Hurting Animals

The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, 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 federal, state, and local levels.

Victories

Breed Neutral Policy and Animal Cruelty Cross Reporting Bill (Massachusetts)

H.4911

Massachusetts legislation would create a dog-breed-neutral policy, and remove dog breed prohibitions, related to placing a child in a foster or adoptive home; it also clarifies that human services employees can report animal cruelty.

Civil Immunity Bill “Good Samaritan Rule” (Washington)

H.B.1046

Provides civil immunity for rescuing at-risk companion animals and vulnerable people locked in cars.

A Bill to Ban Wild Animals in Circuses (Washington)

An Act Relating to Prohibiting the Use of Certain Animals in Traveling Animal Acts (S.B.5065)

Prohibits the use of certain wild animals in circuses and traveling animal acts in Washington.

Providing Shelter to Companion Animals in Disasters (Washington)

H.B.1201

This bill would require counties or cities in Washington to designate emergency shelters that can accommodate companion animals.

Coercive Control Bill (Massachusetts)

S. 2820

Legislation would help victims of domestic violence, both human and animal, by updating the Commonwealth’s legal definition of abuse to include regarding “coercive control” to include committing or threatening to commit cruelty to the animal companion.

Room to Roam Act (California)

A.B. 1889

This bill would help protect California wildlife and prioritize climate resilience by establishing a statewide policy requiring local governments to consider and implement measures to protect and improve wildlife connectivity through land-use planning.

Poison-Free Wildlife Act (California)

A.B. 2552

The Poison-Free Wildlife Act would place a moratorium on some of the most dangerous rodenticides — which cause widespread poisoning of wildlife — with limited exceptions.

A Bill to Strengthen Cruelty Laws (Oregon)

A bill to strengthen cruelty laws (H.B. 4043)

This bill will both strengthen current cruelty laws and make it a crime to interfere with investigations into animal abuse and neglect.

Traveling Animal Act Ban (Maryland) 

H.B. 379/S.B. 0547

This bill would prohibit the participation of a bear, cougar, elephant, jaguar, leopard (excluding clouded leopards), lion, nonhuman primate, tiger, or any hybrid of these animals in a traveling act in Maryland.

Octopus Farming Ban (California)

A.B. 3162

This bill would prohibit octopus farming on land or water and ban the import of farmed octopuses in California.

Octopus Farming Ban (Washington)

H.B. 1153

The bill would prohibit the farming of octopus in the state.

Cosmetics Testing Ban (Washington)

H.B. 1097

This bill would make it unlawful for manufacturers to sell or offer for sale in Washington a cosmetic that was developed or manufactured using cosmetic animal testing conducted or contracted for by the manufacturer or its supplier (with limited exceptions)

Banning Killing Contests (New York)

S.4099/A.2917

Proposed legislation would prohibit harassing or killing certain wildlife at competitive events.

An Act to Increase Kennel Safety (Massachusetts)

S. 1309/H. 4919

This law, also known as Ollie’s Law, requires the state to put into effect minimum standards for certain types of kennels such as daycares and boarding facilities.

Cat Declaw Bill (Rhode Island)

S.B.180A/H.B. 5668A

This bill would ban cat declawing in Rhode Island, with an exemption for situations in which the procedure is necessary for a legitimate medical purpose for the well-being of the cat.

An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing (Massachusetts)

S.2552

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

Relating to the licensing and regulation of dog and cat breeders (Texas)

H.B. 2238/S.B. 876

This bill would amend the licensing requirements for dog and cat breeders in Texas.

An Act Concerning Cruelty to Animals (Connecticut)

H.B. 6714

This bill includes a possession ban, a prohibition against animal sexual abuse, and veterinary reporting of animal fighting.

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.

An Act Relating to Animal Cruelty and Declaring an Emergency (Oregon)

S.B. 696

Bill would allocate state budget funds for a special prosecutor focused on animal cruelty cases, based in the state attorney general’s office with jurisdiction throughout Oregon.

An Act Relating to Testing Cosmetics on Animals (Oregon)

H.B. 3213

This bill would prohibit manufacturers from selling or offering to sell cosmetics developed through use of animal testing in Oregon.

Fund the study and creation of wildlife crossings (New Mexico)

Wildlife Corridors Act (S.B. 72)

Will establish a wildlife corridor fund to be administered by New Mexico’s Department of Transportation

An Act to Prohibit Wagering On Simulcast Greyhound Races (Colorado)

H.B. 1041

Protects greyhounds from racing by ending off-track betting on greyhound races that are conducted at, and simulcast from, a track outside of Colorado.

Protecting Animals from Sexual Abuse (New Mexico)

S.B. 215

Creates the crime of bestiality and establishes a post-conviction animal possession ban, among other provisions

Consider Companion Animals’ Interests in Determining Custody (Rhode Island)

H.B. 5918

An Act Relating to Domestic Relations — Divorce and Separation would require courts to consider important factors relating to an animal’s interests in awarding sole or joint custody of a companion animal in divorce or separation proceedings.

Protect Wildlife with Safe Crossings (Massachusetts)

Wildlife Crossings Project Provision of the Transportation Bond Bill (SEC 40 of H.5151)

Requires study of the feasibility of and creating an action plan for wildlife crossings projects in the Commonwealth

Factory Farm Moratorium (Oregon)

S.B. 85

Pet Animal Ownership In Housing (Colorado)

H.B. 1068

The Colorado Pet Animal Ownership in Housing bill, H.B. 1068, contains several provisions to increase protections for both companion animals and their families.

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.4915)

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

An act to add Section 122191 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to online pet retailers

This California state bill prohibits the financing of purchases of dogs and cats, often used in the sale of animals bred in puppy or kitten mills and sold online.

Animal Care and Control Omnibus Amendment Act of 2021 (Washington, D.C.)

Bill 24-0560

Bill would implement a retail pet sale ban in Washington, D.C.; prohibit cat declawing in the District; criminalize the sexual abuse of animals; ban the possession of dogfighting implements; and make additional improvements for animals.

Cat Declawing Ban (Maryland)

SB 67/HB 22

Maryland has become the second U.S. state to ban declawing, a surgical procedure in which all or part of the last bone in a cat’s toes is amputated. Declawing can have lifelong medical implications and adversely affect behavior.

Protecting Chickens from Extreme Confinement (Arizona)

Three humane reforms for hens in the egg industry

Chickens are among the most abused animals, yet have few legal protections. Now, Arizona’s Department of Agriculture has established regulations protecting hens used by the egg industry from the cruelest form of intensive confinement.

Strengthening Protections Against the Sexual Abuse of Animals (Florida)

S.B. 1798

Florida lawmakers have passed a bill strengthening penalties for the sexual abuse of animals as well as imposing a possession ban on those convicted, limiting their future interactions with animals.

Prohibiting Landlords from Requiring Cat Declawing (Delaware)

H.B. 386

As the law stands now in Delaware, landlords may require a tenant to declaw a cat as a condition for entering into or renewing a rental agreement. If House Bill 386 is enacted, it would prohibit landlords from imposing this requirement.

The Izzy the Cat Act (Delaware)

S.B. 258/S.S. 1

When a companion animal is harmed by another person’s actions, Delaware law currently limits monetary damages to the animal’s “fair market value.” A new bill would instead allow the animal’s guardian to recoup the cost of veterinary care.

Provide Funding for Retired Law Enforcement Dogs’ Veterinary Care (Florida)

Florida’s Care for Retired Law Enforcement Dogs Program Act would provide funding for retired law enforcement dogs’ vet care

The Care for Retired Law Enforcement Dogs Program Act would create a program to provide funding for the veterinary care of dogs formerly used in law enforcement. (H.B. 25/S.B. 226)

Puppy Mill Pipeline Act (New York)

S.1130/A.4283

Prohibits the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in retail stores.

Preventing Convicted Wildlife Poachers from Hunting in Massachusetts (Massachusetts)

An Act Further Regulating the Enforcement of Illegal Hunting Practices (H.4442)

Modernizes penalties for illegal hunting and enters Massachusetts in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

Facilitating the Adoption of Dogs and Cats Retired from Laboratories (Massachusetts)

An Act Protecting Research Animals (H.901)

Requires the adoption of dogs and cats ‘retired’ from laboratories at research institutions or product testing facilities under certain circumstances

Oppose: Bill Would Undermine State’s Retail Pet Sales Ban (Illinois)

An act concerning regulation (H.B. 4643)

Would jeopardize an important humane reform and once again enable pet stores to sell commercially bred puppies and kittens.

Funds to Care for Animal Cruelty Victims (New Jersey)

New Jersey Cost of Care Bill (A.2354/S.981)

Currently, New Jersey animal care agencies bear the cost of caring for animal cruelty victims, an expense that can be financially overwhelming. The Cost of Care bill would address this problem.

Oppose: Pet Protection Act (Florida)

Would preempt new local retail sales bans for cats and dogs and would also prohibit municipalities from enacting any further safeguards against puppy and kitten mills. (SB 994/HB 849)

Upgrading Standards for Hens Used by the Egg Industry (Massachusetts)

An Act to Upgrade Hen Welfare and Establish Uniform Cage-free Standards (S.2481)

Improves conditions for hens used by the egg industry by mandating that they be able to engage in certain vital natural and expands coverage to hens whose eggs are used for egg products commonly used by cafeterias and fast food chains

Prohibiting the Sale of Cosmetics Tested on Animals (New Jersey)

Prohibits the sale of cosmetics that were developed or manufactured using animal tests on or after March 1, 2022 (A.795/ S.1726)

The New Jersey Humane Cosmetics Act, A.795/ S.1726, prohibits the sale of cosmetics that were developed or manufactured using animal tests on or after March 1, 2022.

Funding Critical Animal Health Services In Massachusetts FY2021 State Budget

State Budget Allocates Funds for Spay, Neuter, and Vaccination Services

Governor signs state budget allocating $50k to provide critical animal health services to animals in need.

Providing Key Protections for Agricultural Workers (Colorado)

Bill Would Help Protect Colorado’s Tens of Thousands of Farm Workers

Helps protect Colorado’s tens of thousands of farm workers by establishing whistleblower protections, fairer compensation for labor, and protections other workers already access through Colorado’s Labor Peace Act

Funding Critical Health Services for Animals In Need (Massachusetts)

State Budget Allocates Funds for Spay, Neuter, and Vaccination Services

Governor signs state budget allocating funds to provide critical animal health services—including spay and neuter surgeries and vaccinations—to animals in need.

New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act (New York)

Prohibits the manufacture or sale of cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2023 (A.5653-A/ S.4839)

The New York Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act, A.5653-A/S.4839, would prohibit the manufacture or sale of most cosmetics tested on animals after January 1, 2023.

Ending the Intensive Confinement of Hens Used by the Egg Industry (Nevada)

Mandating hens be provided cage-free environments as well as vital enrichments (AB 399)

Nevada became the 9th state to pass a hen welfare bill when Governor Steve Sisolak signed AB 399 on June 4, 2021. The Animal Legal Defense Fund was glad to assist the broad coalition of organizations supporting this bill and engage advocates in Nevada.

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