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CALIFORNIA
ANIMAL BILLS
California Animal Bills Introduced in 2025
AB 347 Pupil instruction: animal dissection.
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This bill, if a pupil chooses to refrain from participation in an assessment, education project, or test involving the dissection of animals, would require a teacher to provide an alternative assessment, education project, or test. The bill would prohibit a pupil’s grades from being impacted as a means of penalizing the pupil for exercising their rights concerning dissection of animals. The bill would require a teacher to provide, at a pupil’s request, any sourcing information provided by the vendor or provider of the animals and information about the chemicals used to preserve the animals for dissection to which the pupil may be exposed. The bill would require a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, to provide written notice of the pupils’ rights that includes specified information, including, among other things, the above-described rights and the complaint procedures described below. The bill would require, by November 1, 2026, the State Department of Education to develop a template that a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, would be authorized to use to provide this written notice and to make the template available on its internet website. The bill would encourage, by July 1, 2028, public schools to explore using effective alternative methods in lieu of utilizing live or dead animals or animal parts for dissection in a course of study, except as provided. The bill would require the Uniform Complaint Procedures to apply to pupils’ rights to refrain from participation in an assessment, education project, or test involving the dissection of animals and to choose an alternative assessment, education project, or test. By imposing additional duties on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Status: 4/9/2025-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
Calendar: 4/9/2025 WICKS, BUFFY, Chair - APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
AB 463 Emergency medical services: dogs and cats.
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Current law authorizes a private ambulance owner to operate an emergency ambulance service upon obtaining a license from the Department of the California Highway Patrol, as specified. This bill would authorize those license holders or a person who operates ambulances owned or operated by a fire department of a federally recognized Indian tribe to transport a police canine, as defined, or a search and rescue dog, as defined, that is injured in the line of duty, to a veterinary clinic or similar facility if there is no other person requiring medical attention or transport at that time.
Status: 4/28/2025-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Calendar: 5/7/2025 9 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS, WICKS, BUFFY, Chair
AB 478 Accessibility to emergency information and services: evacuations: pets.
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Current law requires a city or county to make available to the public by posting on its nternet website information for pet emergency preparedness, including, but not limited to, information for creating an evacuation plan and emergency checklist for pets consistent with recommendations publicly published by the Department of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This bill, upon the next update to a city or county’s emergency plan, would require a city or county to update its emergency plan to designate procedures for certain persons or entities to be able to rescue a pet, as defined, from an area subject to an evacuation order that at the time of the evacuation the pet’s owner believed to be alive. The bill would require that the procedures establish timelines or conditions in which rescues can occur as safely as possible. The bill, upon the next update to a city or county’s emergency plan, would also require a city or county to update its emergency plan to designate a person or entity for a person with a residence in an area subject to an evacuation order to call if the person is in need of assistance with pets during and after an evacuation, as specified.
Status: 4/29/2025-From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Calendar: 4/29/2025-A. APPR.
AB 506 Contracts: sale of dogs and cats ***
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This bill would require a person selling, transporting, or importing a dog into the state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership to obtain and submit a health certificate to the Department of Food and Agriculture with respect to that dog that has been completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated no more than 10 days before the date on which the dog is brought into the state, as specified. The bill would require the health certificate to contain specified information.
Status: 4/22/2025-A. APPR.
Calendar: 5/7/2025 9 a.m. - 1021 O Street, Room 1100 ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS, WICKS, BUFFY, Chair
AB 516 Registered Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Assistants: scope of practice
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This bill would authorize registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to perform animal health care services not otherwise prohibited by law under the supervision of a veterinarian, and would authorize both registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants to perform animal health care services not otherwise prohibited by law on animals housed in public or private animal shelters, humane societies, or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals pursuant to an order of a veterinarian. The bill would also authorize a registered veterinary technician to perform dental care procedures, including tooth extractions, under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Status: 5/1/2025-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Calendar: Pend Sen. Committee
AB 519 Pet Broker Sales ***
This is a full ban on pet brokers!! This bill would prohibit a broker from adopting, selling, or offering for sale a dog, cat, or rabbit. The bill would define a broker as a person or business that sells, arranges, negotiates, or processes, either in person or online, the sale of dogs, cats, or rabbits bred by another for profit and would include facilitating the transfer of those animals for profit.
Status: 4/23/2025-Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
Calendar: 5/5/2025 #97 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING FILE - ASSEMBLY BILLS
AB 631 Animals: animal shelters: transparency
Existing law requires all public and private animal shelters to keep accurate records on each animal taken up, medically treated, or impounded, as specified. This bill would require animal shelters, as defined, to post on their internet websites, or third-party internet websites, the number of animals taken in, the source of intake, and the outcomes for all animals, as specified. The bill would require this information to be made publicly accessible, updated at least once per month, and remain publicly accessible for at least 5 years.
Status: 4/29/2025-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Calendar: Pend Sen. committee
AB 691 Personal Income Tax Law: credits: pet adoption and medical expenses.
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Would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2030, allow a credit against the taxes imposed by the Personal Income Tax Law for the qualified pet adoption costs, as defined, not to exceed $250, and the qualified pet medical expenses, as defined, not to exceed $500, paid or incurred during the taxable year. The bill would prohibit a claim for qualified pet adoption costs for more than one qualified pet, as defined, during the life of the taxpayer. The bill would additionally prohibit a claim for qualified pet medical expenses with regard to more than one qualified pet during the life of the taxpayer, as provided. In the case of spouses filing a joint return, the bill would apply these restrictions to each spouse separately. The bill would require a taxpayer to provide all information necessary to administer this credit, upon request and in the form and manner provided by the Franchise Tax Board, including, but not limited to, a declaration under penalty of perjury that the taxpayer has not previously claimed the credit. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Status: 4/21/2025-In committee: Set, second hearing. Referred to suspense file.
Calendar: 5/5/2025 2:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 126 ASSEMBLY REVENUE AND TAXATION SUSPENSE, GIPSON, MIKE, Chair
AB 793 Fairness for Dogs and Community Safety
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This bill would require a court or other hearing entity in a proceeding on original jurisdiction, or a court in a proceeding on appeal, to determine whether a dog is vicious upon clear and convincing evidence and, when determining whether a dog is potentially dangerous or vicious, to make explicit findings to support the conclusion that the dog engaged in unprovoked conduct. The bill would define “provoke” and “unprovoked” for purposes of these provisions. The bill would instead require any order issued under these provisions to destroy a dog to be supported by clear and convincing evidence the dog poses an irremediable and unreasonable threat to the public health, safety, and welfare and would define “irremediable” for these purposes. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.
Status: 4/24/2025-Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 0.) In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Calendar: Pending Sen. Jud. Committee
AB 867 Veterinary Medicine: animal declawing
This bill would prohibit a person from performing a declawing or similar procedures on any cat or other animal unless the person is licensed as a veterinarian pursuant to the act and the veterinarian is performing the declawing for a therapeutic purpose, as defined. The bill would require a veterinarian, if they determine declawing is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, to file a written statement with the board that includes, among other information, the purpose for performing the procedure, and would require the veterinarian to also provide a copy of the statement to the owner of the animal.
Status: 4/29/2025-In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
Calendar: Pending Senate Committee
AB 892 Captive Wild Animals: direct contact: prohibition
This bill would prohibit a person from allowing any member of the public to come into direct contact with specified animals held in captivity. The bill would provide that this prohibition does not apply to direct contact between those animals and certain individuals. A person who violates this prohibition would not be subject to criminal penalty but would be subject to certain civil penalties and any restricted species permit for the animal would be subject to immediate suspension or revocation by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Status: 4/8/2025-In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
Calendar: Pending hearing date
AB 928 Roosters: restrictions
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This bill would prohibit a person from keeping or raising more than 3 roosters per acre, or 25 roosters total on any property, except as specified. The bill would subject a person who violates this prohibition to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation, as provided. The bill would define “rooster” for purposes of these provisions.
Status: 4/30/2025-In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
Calendar: 4/30/2025-A. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
AB 1382 Animals: sale of pets: intentional genomic alterations.
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This bill, would Would prohibit a person from importing for profit, selling, or offering for sale in this state a pet animal, as defined, that has been modified or developed by intentional genomic alterations, as defined, unless the intentional genomic alteration is to benefit the health of the animal or to enhance the animal’s interaction with humans, as specified. The bill would provide that each pet animal imported for profit, sold, or offered for sale in this state in violation of that prohibition is a separate violation and is punishable by a civil penalty of not less than $5,000. The bill would authorize the district attorney of the county in which the violation occurred, and the city attorney of the city in which the violation occurred, to bring an action to enforce that prohibition, as specified.
Status: 4/23/2025-Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
Calendar: Pendung Calendar
AB 1458 Animal physical therapy.
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Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, provides for the licensure, approval, and regulation of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants by the Physical Therapy Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, establishes the Veterinary Medical Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for the licensure and regulation of veterinarians and the practice of veterinary medicine. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to authorize a physical therapist licensed under the Physical Therapy Practice Act who holds an advanced certification in animal physical therapy to provide animal physical therapy under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian upon the recommendation of the veterinarian.
Status: 4/24/2025-In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
Calendar: Pending Committee
AB 1482 Bowie’s Law: animals: adoption, shelter, overcrowding, and breeding
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This bill, Bowie’s Law, would require an animal shelter, as defined, to provide in a conspicuous location on its internet website or a third-party internet website a list of all animals that are available for adoption or that are being held pursuant to specified laws, except as provided. The bill would also require the Department of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study on certain topics, including, among other topics, the overcrowding of California’s animal shelters, and, on or before January 1, 2028, to submit a report on that study to the Legislature, as provided. The bill would repeal these study and reporting requirements on January 1, 2032.
Status: 5/1/2025-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
AB 1502 Veterinary medicine: California Veterinary Medical Board.
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The Veterinary Medicine Practice Act establishes the California Veterinary Medical Board, until January 1, 2026, within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of veterinarians, veterinarian technicians, and the practice of veterinary medicine. Current law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes the board to appoint a person exempt from civil service as an executive officer to exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in them. Current law establishes the membership of the board, including 4 licensed veterinarians, 1 registered veterinary technician, and 3 public members. This bill would extend the existence of the board to until January 1, 2030, add an additional registered veterinary technician member to the board, and make conforming changes. The bill would require at least one of the licensed veterinarian members to specialize in equine or livestock care, or both.
Status: 5/1/2025-Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
SB 221 Crimes: stalking; expand stalking laws to include animal protection
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Current law makes a person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for the person’s safety, or the safety of the person’s immediate family, guilty of the crime of stalking, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. This bill would also make a person guilty of stalking if the person willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for the safety of that person’s pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse.
Status:: 4/21/2025-April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
Calendar: 4/21/2025-S. APPR. SUSPENSE FILE
SB 312 Dog importation: health certificates ***
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This bill would require a person selling, transporting, or importing a dog into the state for the purpose of resale or change of ownership to obtain and submit a health certificate to the Department of Food and Agriculture with respect to that dog that has been completed by a licensed veterinarian and is dated no more than 10 days before the date on which the dog is brought into the state, as specified. The bill would require the health certificate to contain specified information.
Status:: 5/1/2025-From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (April 29).
Calendar: 5/5/2025 #3 SENATE SENATE BILLS - SECOND READING FILE
SB 602 Veterinarians: veterinarian-client-patient relationship
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Existing law authorizes a veterinarian to allow a registered veterinary technician to act as an agent of the veterinarian for the purpose of establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to administer preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites by satisfying specified conditions, including, among other things, imposing different requirements relating to the proximity of the veterinarian depending upon where the registered veterinarian technician is administering the vaccine or medication. Specifically, existing law requires either that the veterinarian is physically present at the premises when the registered veterinary technician is working at a registered veterinary premises, or, if working at a location other than a registered veterinary premises, that the veterinarian is in the general vicinity or available by telephone and is quickly and easily available.This bill would revise the above-described condition to authorize a registered veterinary technician to administer the vaccine or medication in a registered veterinary premises that is a public animal control agency or shelter, private animal shelter, humane society shelter, or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter when the veterinarian is in the general vicinity or available by telephone and is quickly and easily available.
Status:: 4/25/2025-Set for hearing May 5.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
SB 687 Chiropractors: animal chiropractic practitioners
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Existing law authorizes a veterinarian to allow a registered veterinary technician to act as an agent of the veterinarian for the purpose of establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to administer preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites by satisfying specified conditions, including, among other things, imposing different requirements relating to the proximity of the veterinarian depending upon where the registered veterinarian technician is administering the vaccine or medication. Specifically, existing law requires either that the veterinarian is physically present at the premises when the registered veterinary technician is working at a registered veterinary premises, or, if working at a location other than a registered veterinary premises, that the veterinarian is in the general vicinity or available by telephone and is quickly and easily available.This bill would revise the above-described condition to authorize a registered veterinary technician to administer the vaccine or medication in a registered veterinary premises that is a public animal control agency or shelter, private animal shelter, humane society shelter, or society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter when the veterinarian is in the general vicinity or available by telephone and is quickly and easily available.
Status:: 4/28/2025-April 28 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
Calendar: Pending Calendar
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