Brooks Law Digest: Legislation

California Assembly Bill 2059 proposes to limit the use of dogs in toxicological experimentation in the state to tests that are a part of medical research, required in order to comply with the Toxic Substances Control Act, or required in order to comply with federal requirements to achieve approval of a medical device, drug, or pesticide.

Kentucky Senate Bill 142 proposes to amend the state’s anti-cruelty statute. The legislation would change the required mental state to be convicted of cruelty and would remove the exception for “agricultural” practices.

Maryland Senate Bill 188 proposes to declare a food that contains animal tissue cultivated outside the animal from which the culture is derived, is made from plants, or is made from insects to be misbranded if it is labeled as “meat” or a “meat product.”

Illinois Senate Bill 2995 would increase the charges of some cruelty to a domestic animal to a class 2 felony (if the animal died), class 3 felony (for subsequent violations of the statute), or class 1 felony (if a second violation results in the death of a subsequent companion animal); rather than a class 4 felony.

Illinois Senate Bill 2973 would amend state law to prohibit the Illinois Housing Authority from restricting rentals of affordable housing to those with common companion animals, such as a dog or a cat, regardless of breed or size of the animal.

Arizona House Bill 2724 would ban the sale of eggs laid by confined or caged hens, whether the eggs originated in or out of the state. The bill would require more space for hens (at least one square foot per bird) by the end of 2020, and the full ban would go into effect at the end of 2024.

Maryland Senate Bill 626 proposes to prohibit retail pet stores from transporting into or within the state dogs and cats for sale or transfer within the state. The bill contains an exception for rescued dogs and cats to be displayed for adoption.

Senate Bill 1029, The Courthouse Dogs Act, would make clear that federal courts have the authority to allow certified therapy dogs in courthouses to assist survivors of trauma as they testify.

Last June, the Oregon governor signed Senate Bill 638, a bill that requires research facilities that use cats or dogs for laboratory research to offer the animals up for adoption prior to euthanizing them. The legislation went into effect at the start of this year.

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act proposes to reform the agricultural checkoff programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture. The legislation is designed to increase transparency and to institute financial controls over the programs. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.