Legislative Updates

For more information about the outcome of federal bills, please visit the federal animals or federal children page.

State Issues

For more information about state bills, follow these links:

State Issues - 2010 Bills
State Issues - 2009 Bills

Federal Animals

Passed

Critical Dogfighting Language Included in Federal Farm Bill

No vote

Congressional Resolution on The Link®
Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act of 2007 (S 2439)
Human and Pet Food Safety Act of 2007 (HR 2108)

Learn more about these bills...

Federal Children

Passed

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
Extending the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to March 31, 2009 (S 2499)
Granted $30 million to help ensure that students whose families are losing their homes to foreclosures do not also have to leave their schools (HR 3221)
Resolution encouraging employment opportunities for foster youth (H. Res. 1332)

No vote

Children’s Budget Act (S 3277)
All Healthy Children Act of 2007 (HR 4091/S 1462)
Adoption Improvement Act of 2007 (HR 6549/S 2395)
Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act of 2007 (HR 2052/S 1204)

No progress

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S 3155)

Learn more about these bills...

Action Alerts

Federal Alert
Casey Amendment to Senate Health Care Reform Bill (HR 3590)
Help ensure children benefit from health care reform.

Federal Alert
Early Education Bills
Help provide children with a strong start in education at a young age.

Federal Alert
Education Begins at Home Act
Help keep children and families safe.

Federal Alert
Keeping All Students Safe Act (HR 4247)
Help keep children safe in the classroom.

Federal Alert
Two Education Bills for Homeless and Foster Children
Help support resources and education for homeless and foster children.

Federal Alert
White House Conference on Children and Youth in 2010 Act
Help make children in America a priority today.

Alaska Alert
Bestiality
Help make bestiality a form of animal cruelty in Alaska.

Arizona Alert
Pets in Orders of Protection
Help protect Arizona's pets from domestic abuse.

Delaware Alert
Penalizing Animal Fighting and Baiting
Help punish animal cruelty in Delaware by imposing a mandatory six-month jail sentence for individuals convicted of animal fighting and baiting.

Delaware Alert
Pets in Protective Orders
Help protect Delaware’s pets from domestic violence.

Florida Alert
Breed-Specific Legislation
Help stop breed-specific legislation in Florida.

Illinois Alert
Increased Penalties for Dogfighting
Protect children and animals from the horrors of dogfighting.

Kentucky Alert
Increased Penalties for Animal Abuse (HB 169/HB 225)
Help protect Kentucky's pets from abuse.

Massachusetts Alert
Pets in Protective Orders
Help protect Massachusetts’ pets from domestic abuse

Massachusetts Alert
Breed-neutral dangerous dog law
Support this bill to stop unfair targeting of certain breeds.

Michigan Alert
Humane Euthanasia / Anti-Pound Seizure
Help ban all inhumane methods of euthanasia for shelter animals and keep shelter cats and dogs from being used in research.
Download the endorsement form.
Congressional study shows B dealers not needed

Michigan Alert
Pound Seizure
Help stop pound seizure in Michigan animal shelters.
Congressional study shows B dealers not needed

Minnesota Alert
Pets in Protective Orders
Help protect Minnesota’s pets from domestic abuse.

New Jersey Alert
Pets in Protective Orders
Help protect New Jersey’s pets from domestic abuse.

New York Alert
Increasing penalties for animal fighting and aggravated cruelty to animals
Increase jail time and fines for animal fighting and acts of aggravated cruelty to animals, and provide psychiatric evaluations and treatment to those convicted to prevent future abuse.

New York Alert
Animal Hoarding
Address and prevent animal hoarding by making it a serious animal neglect offense.

New York Alert
Breed-Specific Legislation
Stop insurance companies from discriminating against certain dog breeds.

Ohio Alert
Repeal Breed-Specific Legislation
Stop unfair targeting of certain dog breeds

Ohio Alert
Pets in Protective Orders; Counseling; Abuse Penalty
Protect animals from abuse and ensure that convicted abusers receive treatment.

Pennsylvania Alert
Eliminate Gas Chambers for Shelter Animals
Help ban the use of the gas chamber for euthanizing animals in shelters.

Pennsylvania Alert
Mandatory Spay/Neuter in Releasing Agencies
Require state-licensed animal shelters to sterilize all animals before they are released for adoption.