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 - 2009 Bills
State Issues - 2008 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
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
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.

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.

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

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

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
Ban Unfair Targeting of Certain Dog Breeds
Help stop insurers from discriminating based on dog breed.

New Jersey Alert
Animal Cruelty in the Presence of a Child
Help protect New Jersey's children from exposure to animal cruelty.

New Jersey Alert
Including Pets in Restraining Orders
Help protect New Jersey's pets from domestic violence.

New Jersey Alert
Cross-Reporting of Child and Animal Abuse
Help support the cross-reporting of child and animal abuse in New Jersey.

New Jersey Alert
Protect Dogs from Excessive Tethering
Help restrict the inhumane practice of tethering dogs outdoors for long periods at a time.

New Jersey Alert
Establish Animal Hoarding as an Animal Cruelty Offense
Help establish animal hoarding as an animal cruelty offense.

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

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

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

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

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