With just over two months left in the Legislative session there are still many bills aimed at weakening our animal welfare laws. Puppy mills, factory farms and large agricultural groups have been relentless in their attempt to obliterate laws protecting animals.
The animals are in peril as we enter the last months of the session.
These are the bills that are of the most concern:
HB 204
Allows Abused & Neglected Animals to Remain in the Hands of Their Abusers
This bill would effectively eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals and would allow the animals to remain in the hands of their abusers until the conclusion of a criminal trial. It also eliminates the authority of Animal Control Officers from rescuing abused and neglected animal. This bill has already passed the House of Representatives.
HB 559
Prohibits Municipalities and Counties from Banning Cruel Animal Events and from Enforcing Animal Protection Laws
This legislation usurps local control by prohibiting counties and municipalities from banning animal events that are inherently cruel. It also prohibits all local ordinances protecting the welfare of animals if the owners allege that such regulations impose “an undue financial hardship” on them. In addition, this legislation jeopardizes all zoning ordinances on animals. This bill has passed out of Committee and is awaiting a vote on the Floor of the House of Representatives.
SB 391
Eliminates Regulations on Factory Farms
SB 391 would eliminate all existing county and local ordinances on factory farms and prohibit county commissioners and county health boards from enacting ordinances to protect their citizens, the environment, and the animals from the negative impacts of corporate-controlled industrial livestock operations, including foreign owned agricultural operations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Please contact your state senator on these bills
- Find out who your state senator is and his/her contact information at Legislator Lookup
- Stay tuned for follow-up Alerts as these bills come up for a vote on the Floor of the Senate
CONTACT YOUR SENATOR TODAY
