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Legislative Updates
State Issues - 2008
ALASKA
Felony Animal Cruelty
Success! Thank you, Alaska advocates!
Senate Bill 273, which would make severe forms of animal cruelty a felony, passed the Senate. However, it was significantly weakened in the House and replaced by HB 307, which was signed into law on June 16, 2008. HB 307 imposes felony charges only if the offender has been convicted of animal cruelty twice before. Although the bill is not nearly as strong as we would like, it is still a good start toward strengthening Alaska's animal cruelty laws. Prior to its passage, Alaska did not have any felony provisions in place for animal cruelty. American Humane will continue working to protect animals and further strengthen animal cruelty laws.
ARIZONA
Pets in Protective Orders
No vote
House Bill 2681 would have allowed judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders. Unfortunately, the bill did not get a House Judiciary Committee vote before the legislative session adjourned. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
COLORADO
Mandatory Spay/Neuter for Animal Shelters
Success! Thank you, Colorado advocates!
Colorado House Bill 1185 has been signed into law. This is great news for Colorado's cats, dogs and local communities, because the bill requires state-licensed animal shelters and rescue groups to spay or neuter cats and dogs before releasing them to adopters. Spaying and neutering helps reduce pet overpopulation.
DELAWARE
Pets in Protective Orders
No vote
House Bill 369 would have allowed judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders. Although the bill passed the House floor, it did not get a Senate vote before the legislative session adjourned. We are hopeful this critical bill will be reintroduced in the next session.
GEORGIA
Pets in Protective Orders
Failed
House Bill 1242 would have allowed judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders. Unfortunately, the bill died in the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. We are hopeful that it will be reintroduced in the next session. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
Ban Gas Chambers for Euthanasia
Failed
House Bill 1060 would have changed the euthanasia process for shelter animals in Georgia by eliminating gas chambers, requiring certification procedures for technicians and adding reporting requirements for shelters. Unfortunately, the bill died in the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
HAWAII
Increased Penalties for Dogfighting
Failed
Hawaii Senate Bill 2133 and House Bill 2476 would have significantly strengthened the state’s dogfighting law by making it a felony to bet or intentionally watch a dogfight. The bills would also have prohibited advertising a dogfight and transporting, breeding, training, housing or selling a dog for dogfighting purposes. All of these offenses would have been Class C felonies punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment. Unfortunately, both bills died in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
ILLINOIS
Banning Gas Chambers for Animals
No vote
The Illinois legislative voting session has ended, and unfortunately, House Bill 4844 remained in the Senate Rules Committee without a vote. HB 4844 would eliminate the use of gas chambers, a dangerous and inhumane method of euthanasia, for animals. We are hopeful that the bill will be reintroduced and pass in the next session.
Cross-Reporting
No vote
The Illinois legislative voting session has ended, and unfortunately, Senate Bill 2851 remained in the Senate Rules Committee without a vote. SB 2851 would require animal welfare investigators to report suspected child abuse and child welfare investigators to report suspected animal abuse. We are hopeful that the bill will be reintroduced and pass in the next session.
Ban Inhumane Methods to Produce Foie Gras
Failed
Assembly Bill 867/Senate Bill 312, which would have banned the cruel force-feeding methods used in producing foie gras (fatty goose liver), recently died in their respective rules committees. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
Preventing Unfair Insurance Practices Based on Dog Breeds
Failed
Senate Bill 1279 would have prevented insurance companies from unfairly discriminating against consumers based on the breed of dog at their residences. Unfortunately, the bill recently died in the Senate Rules Committee. It is our hope that the bill will be reintroduced next session.
INDIANA
Increased Penalties for Spectators at Animal Fights
Failed
The Indiana 2008 legislative session has ended and House Bill 1188, sponsored by Rep. Linda Lawson, has died in the House Committee on Judiciary. We are hopeful the bill will be heard in the next session. This bill would have significantly strengthened the state’s dogfighting law by making it a felony to bring a child under 13 to an animal-fighting contest. While it is a felony to stage an animal contest in Indiana, the law does not currently penalize adult spectators who bring their children to animal fights. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
IOWA
Pets in Protective Orders
Failed
Iowa Senate File 2275, which would have allowed judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders, did not pass. Although the bill passed the full Senate, it died in the House Judiciary Committee. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
LOUISIANA
Pets in Protective Orders
Success! Thank you, Louisiana advocates!
Senate Bill 264 will allow judges to include in domestic violence protective orders any animal owned, possessed, held or kept by a victim of domestic abuse or his or her minor child. The bill passed the House and has been signed into law. This is a major victory for people and animals!
MARYLAND
Felony Animal Cruelty
Success! Thank you, Maryland advocates!
Maryland Senate Bill 44/House Bill 719, which would make it a felony to attend a dogfight or cockfight in Maryland, passed both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly and is now on its way to Gov. O'Malley's desk for signature. This is excellent news for the great state of Maryland!
Pets in Protective Orders
Failed
The Maryland General Assembly’s 2008 legislative session has ended and Senate Bill 625/House Bill 1257, which would have allowed judges to include pets and service animals in domestic-violence protective orders, did not pass. Although the bill passed the full Senate, it died in the House Judiciary Committee. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
MASSACHUSETTS
Images of Animal Cruelty
Success! Thank you, Massachusetts advocates!
Sending a message that animal abuse will not be taken lightly, House Bill 1527, to penalize creating, marketing and distributing images of illegal acts of animal cruelty in Massachusetts, was enacted on Dec. 4, 2008.
Pets in Protective Orders
No Vote
The Massachusetts legislative voting session has ended, and House Bill 4360, which would allow judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders, remained in the House Ways and Means Committee without a vote. We are hopeful this bill will be more successful in the next session.
Anti-Breed-Specific Bill
No Vote
The Massachusetts legislative voting session has ended, and House Bill 1948, which would have protected certain dog breeds from unfair treatment, remained in the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government without a vote. We are hopeful this bill will be more successful in the next session.
First state to pass law to prohibit renting pets
Success! Thank you, Massachusetts advocates!
House Bill 5006 was signed into law on August 5th by Governor Patrick and makes Massachusetts the first state to prohibit renting pets. This is a positive step toward protecting the health and welfare of companion animals.
MICHIGAN
Pets in Protective Orders
No Vote
The Michigan legislative voting session has ended, and although it successfully passed the House, House Bill 4741remained in the House Agriculture Committee without a vote. HB 4741 would include companion animals in personal protection orders. We are hopeful that this bill will be more successful in 2009.
Banning Inhumane Foie Gras Production
No Vote
The Michigan legislative voting session has ended, and House Bill 4871 (to ban inhumane foie gras production) remained in the House Agriculture Committee without a vote. We are hopeful that this bill will be more successful in 2009.
Protecting Pets From Being Used in Research
No Vote
The Michigan legislative voting session has ended, and House Bill 5263 remained in the House Regulatory Reform Committee without a vote. HB 5263 would strictly regulate how cats and dogs used for research are obtained. We are hopeful that this bill will be more successful in 2009.
Increasing Penalties for Animal Cruelty
Signed into Law
The Michigan legislative voting session recently ended, and House Bill 4552 was signed into law on December 23! Although the consecutive sentencing portion of the bill did not pass, HB 4552 still greatly strengthens the state's animal cruelty law by increasing penalties for killing, torturing, or poisoning an animal. Thank you to Representative Byrnes and her staff for their dedication to this issue, and thank you for helping us protect Michigan's animals. We couldn't have done this without you!
MISSISSIPPI
Felony Cruelty to Animals
Failed
Mississippi is one of only seven states with no felony penalties for egregious acts of animal cruelty. Senate Bill 2499 would have changed this by making it a felony to maliciously kill or injure a domesticated animal. The bill also would have required courts to order psychological evaluations of convicted animal abusers. Unfortunately, SB 2499 recently died in the Senate Judiciary Committee. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
NEW JERSEY
Ban Inhumane Methods to Produce Foie Gras
Failed
Assembly Bill 3230, which would have banned the cruel force-feeding methods used in producing foie gras (fatty goose liver), failed in the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee and will not be reintroduced in 2008. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
NEW YORK
Cross-Reporting Animal Abuse
Failed
Assembly Bills 1900 and 9439 would have required child welfare professionals, who are already obligated to report suspected child abuse, to also report suspected animal abuse to local societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals or to local police departments. Unfortunately, both bills died in the Assembly Social Services and Agriculture Committees, respectively. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
Felony Animal Cruelty
Failed
Assembly Bill 7870-A and Senate Bill 5206-A, which would have made aggravated cruelty committed against wildlife a Class E felony punishable by up to two years in prison, died in the Assembly Codes and Senate Agriculture committees, respectively. However, it is encouraging that the Assembly bill progressed further than ever before. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has promised to reintroduce this bill, and we are eager to work with her and support it in the next session.
OHIO
Pets in Protective Orders
No Vote
The Ohio legislative voting session has ended, and House Bill 418, which would allow judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders, remained in the Senate Judiciary Committee without a vote. We are hopeful that this bill will be successful next session.
PENNSYLVANIA
Ban Gas Chambers for Euthanasia
No vote
House Bill 2417, which would have saved thousands of animals in Pennsylvania from suffering an inhumane death by eliminating gas chambers, was not put up for a vote in the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee before the legislature adjourned.
Excessive Tethering
No vote
House Bill 1065, which would have placed restrictions on excessively tethering dogs outdoors, was not put up for a vote in the House Appropriations Committee before the legislature adjourned.
RHODE ISLAND
Pets in Protective Orders
No vote
House Bill 7290 would have allowed judges to include companion animals in domestic-violence protective orders. Unfortunately, the bill was held back by the House Judiciary Committee for further study and did not get a committee vote before the legislative session adjourned. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Pets in Protective Orders
Failed
Each year, throughout South Carolina, countless victims of domestic violence feel they have no choice but to remain in violent households to protect their defenseless pets from harm. Senate Bill 1245/House Bill 4910, introduced by Sen. Robert Hayes and Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, would have encouraged judges to include in domestic-violence protective orders any animal owned, possessed, held or kept by a victim of domestic abuse or his/her minor child. Unfortunately, the bill died in the Judiciary Committee when the legislative session ended. American Humane will continue to pursue support for this bill in 2009.
Unfair Insurance Practices Based on Dog Breeds
No vote
The South Carolina legislative session has adjourned and, unfortunately, Senate Bill 234 remains in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The passage of this legislation would have meant insurance companies could not raise rates or terminate homeowner’s insurance policies based on dog breed type. American Humane opposes breed-specific legislation and will continue to pursue this issue.
UTAH
Felony Animal Cruelty
Success! Thank you, Utah advocates!
It's a great day for dogs and cats in Utah! Senate Bill 297 has been signed into law. SB 297 effectively replaced the nearly identical House Bill 470, which American Humane also supported. SB 297 makes first-offense intentional torture of dogs and cats a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and a possible $5,000 fine. Passage of this bill means that there are only six states left without felony penalty provisions for animal cruelty.
VERMONT
Unfair Insurance Practices Based on Dog Breeds
No vote
The Vermont legislative session has adjourned and, unfortunately, House Bill 67 remains in the House Commerce Committee. The passage of this legislation would have prevented insurance companies from raising rates or terminating homeowner’s insurance policies based on dog breed type. American Humane opposes breed-specific legislation and will continue to pursue this issue.
WASHINGTON
Including Companion Animals in Protective Orders
Failed
The Washington legislative session has adjourned and, unfortunately, House Bill 2836 died in the Senate Rules Committee. We are hopeful the bill will be heard in the next session. Passing this bill into law is critical for the welfare of both people and animals because it addresses the domestic violence-related animal abuse crisis head-on. In an effort to stop abusers from harming or threatening to harm pets, the bill would have allowed judges to include pets in protective orders. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
WEST VIRGINIA
Felony Animal Fighting
Failed
The West Virginia legislative session has adjourned and, unfortunately, House Bill 2737 died in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. We are hopeful it will be heard in the next session. HB 2737 would have significantly strengthened the state's animal-fighting law by making it a felony to possess, own, transport, breed, train or sell any animal for fighting purposes. The bill also would have made it a felony to possess, transport or sell animal-fighting tools, to organize an animal fight or to permit one’s premises to be used for animal fighting. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
WISCONSIN
Including Companion Animals in Domestic Abuse Restraining Orders
Failed
The Wisconsin 2008 general legislative session has ended and Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen. Fred Risser, has died in the Senate Committee on Children and Family Law. We are hopeful the bill will be heard in the next session. Passing this bill into law is critical for the welfare of both people and animals because it would have expanded the definition of domestic abuse to include harm or threat of harm to the family pet, and would have allowed judges to include pets in protective orders. American Humane will continue to pursue this issue.
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